Transparency, refractive index

Materials for optics are usually characterized by optical properties, which are mainly represented by transparency, refractive index (np) and Abbe s number (Vd). Abbe s number (Vd), describing the optical dispersion, is given by Vo=(nD-1 )/(np-nc), where Od, np and nc are the refractive indices of the material at the wavelengths of D, F and C lines of the spectrum of sodium, respectively. 

More recently Andrews and Juzeliunas [6, 7] developed a unified tlieory that embraces botli radiationless (Forster) and long-range radiative energy transfer. In otlier words tliis tlieory is valid over tire whole span of distances ranging from tliose which characterize molecular stmcture (nanometres) up to cosmic distances. It also addresses tire intennediate range where neitlier tire radiative nor tire Forster mechanism is fully valid. Below is tlieir expression for tire rate of pairwise energy transfer w from donor to acceptor, applicable to transfer in systems where tire donor and acceptor are embedded in a transparent medium of refractive index ... 

For an air/glass interface, tan 0b = n, the refractive index of glass. In a gas laser, the light must be reflected back and forth between mirrors and through the gas container hundreds of times. Each time the beam passes through the cavity, it must pass through transparent windows at the ends of the gas container (Figure 18.10b), and it is clearly important that this transmission be as efficient as possible. 

The attenuated total reflectance (ATR) technique is used commonly in the near-infrared for obtaining absorption spectra of thin Aims and opaque materials. The sample, of refractive index i, is placed in direct contact with a material which is transparent in the region of interest, such as thallium bromide/thallium iodide (known as KRS-5), silver chloride or germanium, of relatively high refractive index so that Then, as Figure 3.f8... 

Internal redection starts by consideration of an interface between two media, a denser transparent medium with refractive index n, and a rarer medium with a complex refractive index (= where is the absorption coefficient of the medium) as shown in Figure 23. If of the rarer... 

Antireflection coatings are used over the silicon surface which, without the coating, reflects ca 35% of incident sunlight. A typical coating consists of a single layer of a transparent dielectric material with a refractive index of ca 2, which is between the index of siUcon and ait or cover material. Materials such as titanium dioxide, tantalum pentoxide, Ta20, or siUcon nitride, Si N, ca 0.08-p.m thick are common. The coating and a physically textured... 

Various polymers, such as polythiourethanes, polythioethers, and polythioacrylates, are used to produce resins which are transparent, colorless and have a high refractive index and good mechanical properties, useful for the production of optical lenses. Higher refractive indices are promoted by sulfur compounds and especially by esters of mercaptocarboxyhc acids and polyols such as pentaerythritol (41) (see Polymers containing sulfur). 

Transparent dentifrices can be prepared from certain xerogel siUcas through use of high levels of polyhydric alcohols. Clarity depends on matching the refractive indexes of the siUca and the Hquid base. Compositions for Hquid facial cleansers (68), shampoos (69), conditioning shampoos (70), dandmff shampoos (71), surfactant bars (72), toothpastes (73), and mouthwashes (74) have been pubUshed. 

The transparency and refractive power of the lenses of our eyes depend on a smooth gradient of refractive index for visible light. This is achieved partly by a regular packing arrangement of the cells in the lens and partly by a smoothly changing concentration gradient of lens-specific proteins, the crystallins. 

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