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Astronomy (thesaurus)

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Concept information

Preferred term

refraction index  

Definition

  • Of any optical medium, the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum (c) to that in the medium (v): n = c/v. The refractive index for vacuum, by definition, is 1. The refractive index of air is 1.00029 at standard temperature (25 °C) and pressure (1 atm). The refractive index of a medium depends on the wavelength of refracted wave. With light waves, n increases as the wavelength decreases. (An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics, by M. Heydari-Malayeri, https://dictionary.obspm.fr/index.php?formSearchTextfield=refractive+index&formSubmit=Search&showAll=1)

Broader concept

Entry terms

  • index of refraction
  • refraction indexes
  • refraction indices
  • refractive index
  • refractive indexes
  • refractive indices

In other languages

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/MDL-C9M9MN62-5

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