Section: 10 | Index of Refraction of Inorganic Crystals |

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INDEX OF REFRACTION OF INORGANIC CRYSTALS

This table lists the index of refraction of selected crystalline inorganic compounds. When available, values are given as a function of wavelength in the range from the ultraviolet to the far infrared region. For most compounds a value at 589 nm, the wavelength of the principal sodium line, is given. The data have been taken from the references indicated; in many cases, data from a reference have been refitted to generate the index of refraction at the wavelengths used in this table. All values refer to ambient temperature. Entries marked by * are based on extrapolation beyond the range of available experimental data. Column definitions for the table are as follows.

Column heading	Definition
Mol. form.	Molecular formula of inorganic crystal, list ordered alphabetically
Cryst. syst.	Crystallographic system of the crystal
Ray	Notation for isotropic and anisotropic indexes; see below for definitions
n (200 nm), n (400 nm), etc.	Index of refraction at the wavelength in nm specified within the parentheses
Ref.	Reference

Compounds belonging to the cubic crystal system have only a single refractive index value, but other systems are anisotropic, so that the crystal is characterized by two or three unique indexes. Hexagonal, rhombohedral, and tetragonal crystals have two unique indexes that are traditionally labeled n_o and n_e for “ordinary ray” and “extraordinary ray.” Orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic crystals are characterized by three indexes that here are called n_x, n_y, and n_z. The table indicates the crystal system for each entry in order to identify the material uniquely.

Compounds are listed in order of their common formula.

The refractive index and other optical properties for metals, semiconductors, and certain other compounds can be found in the tables “Optical Properties of Selected Elements” and “Optical Properties of Selected Inorganic and Organic Solids” in Section 12 of this CRC Handbook.

References

Li, H. H., Refractive Index of Alkali Halides and its Wavelength and Temperature Derivatives, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 5, 329, 1976. [https://doi.org/10.1063/1.555536]
Li, H. H., Refractive Index of Alkaline Earth Halides and its Wavelength and Temperature Derivatives, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 9, 161, 1980. [https://doi.org/10.1063/1.555616]
Li, H. H., Refractive Index of ZnS, ZnSe, and ZnTe and its Wavelength and Temperature Derivatives, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 13, 103, 1984. [https://doi.org/10.1063/1.555705]
Shannon, R. D., Shannon, R. C., Medenbach, O., and Fischer, R. X., Refractive Index and Dispersion of Fluorides and Oxides, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 31, 931, 2002. [https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1497384]
Gray, D. E., ed., American Institute of Physics Handbook, Sec. 6b, pp. 6–12, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1972.
Landolt-Börnstein Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology, III/11, Elastic, Piezoelectric, Pyroelectric, Piezooptic, Electrooptic Constants, and Nonlinear Dielectric Susceptibilities of Crystals, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1979.
Landolt-Börnstein Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology, III/30A, High Frequency Properties of Dielectric Crystals. Piezooptic and Electrooptic Constants, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1996.
Weber, M. J., CRC Handbook of Laser Science and Technology, Vol. IV. Optical Materials. Part 2: Properties, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1986.

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Index of Refraction at the Indicated Wavelength

Mol. form.	Name	CAS Reg. No.	Cryst. syst.	Ray	n (150 nm)	n (200 nm)	n (300 nm)	n (589 nm)	n (750 nm)	n (1 μm)	n (2 μm)	n (5 μm)	n (10 μm)	n (15 μm)	n (20 μm)	Ref.
Continued on next page...
AgCl	Silver(I) chloride	7783-90-6	cub	n				2.0668	2.0401	2.0224	2.0062	1.9975	1.9803	1.9511	1.9069	5
AlPO₄	Aluminum phosphate	7784-30-7	rhomb	n_o				1.5247	1.5203	1.5161	1.5034					6
AlPO₄	Aluminum phosphate	7784-30-7	rhomb	n_e				1.5338	1.5290	1.5245	1.5116					6
Al₂O₃	Aluminum oxide (α)	1344-28-1	hex	n_o				1.7673								4
Al₂O₃	Aluminum oxide (α)	1344-28-1	hex	n_e				1.7598								4
As₂O₃^a	Arsenic(III) oxide (arsenolite)	1327-53-3	cub	n				1.7537								4
BaF₂	Barium fluoride	7787-32-8	cub	n	1.677	1.557	1.5010	1.4744	1.4712	1.4686	1.4647	1.4511	1.4014	1.305		2
BaO	Barium oxide	1304-28-5	cub	n				1.9841								4
BaSO₄	Barium sulfate	7727-43-7	orth	n_x				1.6362								4
BaSO₄	Barium sulfate	7727-43-7	orth	n_y				1.6374								4
BaSO₄	Barium sulfate	7727-43-7	orth	n_z				1.6480								4
BaTiO₃	Barium titanate	12047-27-7	tetr	n_o				2.4405								4
BaTiO₃	Barium titanate	12047-27-7	tetr	n_e				2.3831								4
BaWO₄	Barium tungstate	7787-42-0	tetr	n_o				1.8426								4
BaWO₄	Barium tungstate	7787-42-0	tetr	n_e				1.8405								4
BeO	Beryllium oxide	1304-56-9	hex	n_o				1.7184								4
BeO	Beryllium oxide	1304-56-9	hex	n_e				1.7342								4
BeSO₄·4H₂O	Beryllium sulfate tetrahydrate	7787-56-6	tetr	n_o				1.4713								4
BeSO₄·4H₂O	Beryllium sulfate tetrahydrate	7787-56-6	tetr	n_e				1.4328								4

^*Provisional value based on extrapolation beyond the range of experimental data.
^aArsenolite.
^bCalcite.
^cSenarmontite.
^dα-Quartz.
^eRutile.
^fSphalerite.
^gWurtzite.
^hZircon.
^jAnatase.

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INDEX OF REFRACTION OF INORGANIC CRYSTALS

References

Index of Refraction at the Indicated Wavelength

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