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Tie 29 Refractive Index and Dispersion Eng
Tie 29 Refractive Index and Dispersion Eng
Tie 29 Refractive Index and Dispersion Eng
1. Refractive Index
If light enters a non-absorbing homogeneous material Practically speaking the refractive index is a measure for the
reflection and refraction occurs at the boundary surface. strength of deflection occurring at the boundary surface due
The refractive index n is given by the ratio of the velocity to the refraction of the light beam. The equation describing
of light in vacuum c to that of the medium v the amount of deflection is called Snell’s law:
c
n= (1) n1 · sin(a1) = n2 · sin(a2) (2)
v
The refractive index data given in the data sheets are The refractive index is a function of the wavelength. The
measured relative to the refractive index measured in air. most common characteristic quantity for characterization of
The refractive index of air is very close to 1. an optical glass is the refractive index n in the middle range
of the visible spectrum. This principal refractive index is
usually denoted as nd – the refractive index at the wavelength
587.56 nm or in many cases as ne at the wavelength
546.07 nm.
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Technical Information 2
Advanced Optics
2. W
avelength Dependence of Refractive Index:
3.5 101
Dispersion
3.0
The dispersion is a measure of the change of the refractive 100
index with wavelength. Dispersion can be explained by apply-
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Technical Information 3
Advanced Optics
As Abbe demonstrated, the following linear relationship will The position of the normal lines is determined based on value
approximately apply to the majority of glasses, the so-called pairs of the glass types K7 and F2. The explicit formulas for the
”normal glasses” deviations ΔPx,y of the above-mentioned five relative partial dis-
persions are:
Px,y ≈ axy + bxy · nd(6)
ΔPC,t = (nC – nt )/(nF – nC ) – (0.5450 + 0.004743 · nd )
axy and bxy are specific constants for the given relative partial ΔPC,s = (nC – ns )/(nF – nC ) – (0.4029 + 0.002331 · nd )
dispersion. ΔPF,e = (nF – ne )/(nF – nC ) – (0.4884 – 0.000526 · nd )(9)
In order to correct the secondary spectrum (i. e. color correc ΔPg,F = (ng – nF )/(nF – nC ) – (0.6438 – 0.001682 · nd )
tion for more than two wavelengths) glasses are required ΔPi,g = (ni – ng )/(nF – nC ) – (1.7241 – 0.008382 · nd )
which do not conform to this rule. Therefore glass types having
deviating partial dispersion from Abbe’s empirical rule are Figure 2 shows the Pg,F versus the Abbe number nd
especially interesting. diagram.
As a measure of the deviation of the partial dispersion from The relative partial dispersions listed in the catalog were
Abbe’s rule the ordinate difference ΔP is introduced. Instead calculated from refractive indices to 6 decimal places. The
of relation (6) the following generally valid equation is used: dispersion formula (10) can be used to interpolate additional
unlisted refractive indices and relative partial dispersions
Px,y = axy + bxy · nd + ΔPx,y(7) (see chapter 2.3).
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Technical Information 4
Advanced Optics
nF – nC
Pg,F = ng – nF
Pg,F = ng – nF
Description of Symbols
0.63 N-glasses 0.63
P-glasses N
-S
SF F5
11 S 7
Classical crown and flint glasses N N- F57
-S SF *
0.62 F1 6 0.62
Glasses suitable for precision molding N 1
P- N -SF1
SF -S 4
HT – High transmittance glasses N F4
P- 69 -S
SF S F
8 N N- F1 10
0.61 HTultra – Ultra high transmittance glasses -S SF 0
F1 1 0.61
N
-L N- N-S 5
* Available in step 0.5 N ASF SF5 F8
-L 4 *
N AS 6A
-S F
0.60 N SF F2 9 SF
SF 6 0.60
N - SF 5 56
N -B LA 2 A
-L N ASF F7 *
AS - 2 SF
F4 F2 4
5 LA
N
-B SF SF3
0.59 1 5 0.59
AS
F6 N-
4 LA
LF SF
46
N N 5 B
-B -B
AF AF
0.58 52 N 4 0.58
-B N
A LA -KZ
N LL F51 F2 FN FS
-B F1 7 8 *
AF
10 N
N F5 -LAS
0.57 -S F4 0.57
N SK 0
- 8 N
N SSK N- -KZF
N N -K 5 LA S5
N N- N -B -SS F9 SF
-L SK - A
BA L 2 K
N-
LA 43 *
AK 2 N F5 SF
0.56 22 * L N 31 0.56
N N -LA F4 N -L
N- -LA AF2 A P-LA
-S -B K KZ SF4 SF
K4 AK 12 P 50
N N N
-B 4 N FS 1 P-L-LAS
-P N -SK K7 AK P-L -KZF
11
* AS F47
SK -S 14 1 N- AF S4 F5
N 53 K5 N N L 3 * N 1
-B -K N- A 7 - LA
0.55 N
-P
K5
A*
N AK 5 LA SF44 F3
3 0.55
N -P 1* -S 2 F2 *
-F K5 K1 N 1
K5 N -L
N
-F 1A
2A N N- 1 N- -LA AF35
K5 N -PS ZK7 N- LA F3
* - K LA K10 4
8 P- BK 3 K K3
0.54 BK 7* N 10 3B 0.54
N 7 N -L
N -B N -LA AK8
K1 N -K K3
-F
K5 0 P-S -LA ZFS2 4 P-L
AK
* N- K6 K14 * 35
LA 0
P K7
0.53 N -SK N-
LA 0.53
P-S -LAK57 K9
K5 21 P -SK *
8A 57
N- Q1
SK
16
0.52 0.52
February 2016
0.51 0.51
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
νd
Fig. 2: Pg,F as a function of the Abbe number for SCHOTT’s optical glass assortment. Additionally the normal line is given.
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Technical Information 5
Advanced Optics
sion region with one set of data and to calculate accurate 1013.98 t infrared mercury line Hg
purposes Equation (10) applies to refractive indices in air at 312.5663 ultraviolet mercury line Hg
room temperature. The achievable precision of this calculation 296.7278 ultraviolet mercury line Hg
is generally better than 1 · 10 – 5 in the visible spectral range. 280.4 ultraviolet mercury line Hg
The coefficients of the dispersion equation can be reported for 248.3 ultraviolet mercury line Hg
individual glass parts upon request. This requires a precision
Tab. 1: Wavelengths for a section of frequently used spectral lines.
measurement for the entire spectral region, provided the glass
shows sufficient transmission.
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Technical Information 6
10
∆nrel[10-4 ]
3. Temperature Dependence of Refractive Index
0
wavelength, but also on temperature. The relationship of Δnrel/ΔT and the values for Δnabs can be calculated with the
refractive index change to temperature change is called help of the equations listed in Technical Information TIE 19.
-10
the temperature coefficient of refractive index. This can be
a positive or a negative value. The data sheets contain infor Figure 3 shows the absolute temperature coefficient of
mation on the temperature coefficients of refractive index for refractive index for different
-15
glasses, temperatures and
temperature [ºC]
several temperature ranges and wavelengths. The temperature wavelengths.
coefficients of the relative refractive indices Δnrel/ΔT apply
for an air pressure of 0.10133 · 106 Pa. The coefficients of N-BK7 SF57 N-PK51 N-LAF2 F2
15
the absolute refractive indices dnabs /dT apply for vacuum.
10
The temperature coefficients of the absolute refractive indices
can be calculated for other temperatures and wavelengths
values with the aid of Equation (11). 5
∆nrel [10-4]
dnabs(λ,T) n2 (λ,T0 ) – 1
= · (D0 + 2 · D1 · ΔT + 3 · D2 0
dT 2 · n(λ,T0 )
E + 2 · E1 · ΔT
· ΔT 2 + 0 ) (11) -5
λ2 – λ2K
Definitions:
-10
T0 Reference temperature (20 °C)
T Temperature (in °C)
ΔT
-15
Temperature difference versus T0 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Advanced Optics
∆vd [%]
used to influence the refractive index within certain limits
100
(depending on the glass type and the allowable stress birefrin- N-BK7
An analogous
200 formula applies to the Abbe number. N-BK7
0.0
N-KZFS4 N-KZFS4
∆nd [10 –5]
d x
100
N-BK7
mnd Annealing
SF2
coefficient for the Abbe number
depending on the glass type – 0.3
0
N-SF5
The annealing coefficient mvd can be calculated with the
following equation:
–100 –0.6
0.1 1 10 0.1 1 10
mνd = (mnd – nAnnealing
d [h0] · mnF – nC
rate) / ((nF – nC ) + 2
[ºC/h] Annealing rate [ºC/h]
· mnF – nC · log (hx/h0 ))(14)
Fig. 4 : Dependence of refractive index nd (a: upper) and Abbe number nd
(b: lower) on the annealing rate for several glass types. Reference annealing
The coefficient mnF – nC has to be determined experimentally. rate is 2 °C/h [3].
The refractive index and Abbe number dependence on Figure 4b shows that individual glass types vary greatly in
annealing rate is graphically shown in Figure 4. their dependence of the Abbe number on the annealing rate.
In general also the Abbe number increases with decreasing
annealing rate. High index lead free glass types such as N-SF5
show anomalous behavior. Anomalous behavior means that
the Abbe number decreases with decreasing annealing rate.
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Technical Information 8
Advanced Optics
The annealing rate can be used to adjust the refractive index 0.6
Step 3
and Abbe number to the desired tolerance range.
0.4
In practice the annealing rate influences the refractive index Step 2 glass for
pressing
and the Abbe number simultaneously. Figure 5 shows a 0.2
Step 1
0.6
diagram of the Abbe number versus the refractive index for Step 0.5 1 0.8
2°C/h
4 0.1
∆vd [%]
ders for step 3 in refractive index and step 3 in Abbe number. glass for
fine annealing
The smallest box indicates step 0.5 in refractive index and – 0.4
Abbe number. The center of the frames is defined by the
nominal catalog value.
– 0.6
– 100 – 80 – 60 – 40 – 20 0 20 40 60 80 100
∆nd [10 –5]
After melting the optical glass is cooled down at a high anneal
ing rate. To control the refractive index during the melting Fig. 5: The influence of the annealing rate on the refractive index and Abbe
process samples are taken directly from the melt after each number of SCHOTT N-BK7® for different initial refractive indices.
Advanced Optics
5. Tolerances
The refractive indices, which are listed to 5 decimal places in The refractive index variation from part to part within a lot is
the data sheets, represent values for a melt with nominal nd-nd always smaller than ± 5 · 10 – 5. The refractive index homo
position for the glass type in question. The refractive index geneity within a single part is better than 4 · 10 – 5 ISO 12123
data are exact to five decimal places (for λ > 2 µm: ± 2 · 10 – 5). (equivalent to ± 2 · 10 – 5 according ISO 10110) in general.
The accuracy of the data is less in wavelength regions with [4; TIE-26]
limited transmission. All data apply to room temperature and A short summary of the refractive index tolerance, variation
normal air pressure (0.10133 · 106 Pa). and homogeneity grades can be found in table 3. More
information is given in the optical glass catalogue [5].
Defining tolerances for the refractive index of a glass the
customer has to distinguish between the refractive index Tolerance Grade Refractive Index [· 10 – 5] Abbe Number
tolerance, the tolerance of refractive index variation within Step 3 ± 50 ± 0.5 %
a lot and the refractive index homogeneity (Figure 6). Step 2 ± 30 ± 0.3 %
Absolute
Step 1 ± 20 ± 0.2 %
H1 4 (± 2) –
25
H2 1 (± 0.5) –
Homogeneity
20
ISO 12123 H3 0.4 (± 0.2) –
(ISO 10110)
15
H4 0.2 (± 0.1) –
refractive index homogeneity
within a single piece:
H5 0.1 (± 0.05) –
10 e.g. H2 < 2 · 10 – 5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Batch No.
Advanced Optics
The question often arises if the tolerances for the refractive • Melts with refractive index values very close to each other in
index at standard wavelength d can be transferred to longer the visible light range may have significant deviations in the
wavelengths in the spectrum. This is approximately sure for near infrared wave length range. Slope and curvature can
wavelengths within the visible spectral range, whereas for differ among melts and also with respect to the catalog curve.
wavelengths in the near IR range up to 1.7 µm one has to look • Extrapolations from test certificate data obtained in the
a little bit more closely on the variation of the dispersion for visible light range improved by using catalog relative partial
different melts of different glass types. A first evaluation was dispersion data can lead to deviations from real measured
published in [6], comparing extrapolations from v-block meas- values up to ± 5 · 10 – 5 or in some cases even more above
urements in the visible to the IR range with precision spec- 1.7 µm wavelength.
trometer measurements (URIS). Glas types evaluated were • Using Abbe number nd, defined for the directly neighboring
SCHOTT N-BK7®, N-KZFS4, N-PK51, N-PK52A, N-SF6, SF57, IR range with the spectral lines C, t and s deviations of
N-LAK22, N-LASF31A, F2 and N-SF57. extrapolated dispersion curves reduce roughly by a factor
of two above 1.7 µm.
The phenomenology of dispersion curves and the comparison • For better extrapolation it is recommended to perform a
of predicted with measured refractive index curves in the near v-block measurement with enhanced accuracy because of
infrared wavelength range lead to the following observations, its extended wavelength range.
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Technical Information 11
Advanced Optics
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Advanced Optics
With the introduction of step 0.5 tolerances also for low dis-
persion glasses the question arises how accurate is the Abbe
Version April 2016 | SCHOTT Advanced Optics reserves the right to make specification changes in this product flyer without notice.
number measurement with the v-Block refractometer. Figure 9
shows the results of reproducibility measurement for the glass
types N-FK58 and SF57. The plot shows the distribution of the
nd and νd of SF57 (blue tilted crosses) and N-FK58 (green
standing crosses) determined by V-block refractometer. The
filled red signs correspond to the center of the V-block refrac- Fig.9: Reproducibility of V-block refractometer. Red box indicates the toler-
ance step. In order to give an impression of the deviation size we added
tometer measurements (SF57: circle and N-FK58: square). the tolerance range of SCHOTT’s best commercially available quality step
The average of several SCHOTT’s spectral goniometer URIS 0.5 (red dashed line).
7. Literature
[1] The properties of optical glass [5] SCHOTT Optical Glass Pocket Catalogue
H. Bach & N. Neuroth (Editors), Springer Verlag 1998
[6] Optical glass: dispersion in the near infrared
[2] Temperature Coefficient of the Refractive Index Peter Hartmann, SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8167, (2011)
SCHOTT Technical Information TIE-19
[7] V-Block refractometer for monitoring the production
[3] Optical glass with tightest refractive index and disper- of optical glasses, U. Petzold, R. Jedamzik, P. Hartmann,
sion tolerances for high-end optical designs, Ralf Jedamzik, and S. Reichel, Proc. SPIE 9628, (2015)
Steffen Reichel, Peter Hartmann, SPIE Proceeding 8982-51,
(2014)
www.schott.com/advanced_optics