Optical constants
Refractive index of 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl)
Wu et al. 1993: n(o) 0.4–0.8 µm; 25.1 °C
- Data
- formula 6
- Range
- 0.4–0.8 µm
- Temperature
- 298.25 K
- Optical axis
- o
- Licence
- CC0-1.0
Uniaxial crystal, axes: oe
Plot
Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.
At one wavelength
- Refractive index n
- 1.53048
- Extinction coefficient k
- 0
- Permittivity ε1
- 2.34237
- Permittivity ε2
- 0
- Absorption coefficient α
- 0 cm⁻¹
- Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
- — nm
- Abbe number Vd
- 30.55
- Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
- -0.0835047 µm⁻¹
- Group index ng
- 1.57955
- Group velocity dispersion
- 201.557 fs²/mm
- Dispersion parameter D
- -1099.6 ps/(nm·km)
- Photon energy
- 2.11001 eV
ε = (n + ik)², α = 4πk/λ, ng = n − λ dn/dλ, GVD = λ³/(2πc²) d²n/dλ², D = −(λ/c) d²n/dλ². Group-velocity dispersion is given for formula data only.
Use it in Lightsmith
Load this data in Python, simulate in one more line
pip install lightsmith
import lightsmith as ls
# 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl): Wu et al. 1993: n(o) 0.4–0.8 µm; 25.1 °C
mat = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("other", "5CB", "Wu-25.1C-o", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(mat.range_nm) # (400, 800) nm
eps = mat.eps([633]) # complex permittivity
Downloads the original record once (pinned to the imported snapshot) and caches it.
import json, urllib.request
import lightsmith as ls
url = "https://materials.lightsmith.dev/v1/datasets/ds_2d41ff16cf65/lightsmith"
mat = ls.Tabulated.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))
print(mat.source) # citation and provenance travel with the data
Any dataset here, as the library's Tabulated material (5cb/wu-1993-25-1c-o).
# ... load mat as above, then:
sim = ls.Simulation(
particles=[ls.Particle(shape=ls.Sphere(radius_nm=50), material=mat)],
medium_index=1.0,
wavelengths=ls.WavelengthRange(start_nm=400, stop_nm=800, num=81),
)
res = ls.solve(sim) # exact Mie for a sphere
print(res.q_ext) # extinction efficiency at each wavelength
Same spec runs with DDA, FDTD, BEM or T-matrix: ls.compare(sim, ["mie", "dda"]).
Lightsmith is open source (MIT): Mie, T-matrix, BEM, DDA, FDTD, RCWA, TMM, mode solvers and inverse design behind one spec, on CPU or GPU. GitHub.
Dispersion formula
Gases (formula 6), λ in µmValid from 0.4 to 0.8 µm.
Coefficients as stored
| Ci | Value |
|---|---|
| C1 | 0.4136 |
| C2 | 1.3515 |
| C3 | 22.6757 |
| C4 | 0.4699 |
| C5 | 12.5748 |
Comments and conditions
Conditions
- temperature
- 298.25 K
- direction
- o
References
- doi:10.1117/12.143988 Refractive index dispersions of liquid crystals, Optical Engineering (1993)
Cite
Shin-Tson Wu, ChiungSheng Wu, Marc Warenghem and M. Ismaili. Refractive index dispersions of liquid crystals. Optical Engineering, 32, 1775-1780 (1993), doi:10.1117/12.143988; Data from the refractiveindex.info database (M. N. Polyanskiy, Sci. Data 11, 94 (2024), doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02898-2)
Data
Computed on 400 wavelengths, the same grid as the API and the library| λ (µm) | n |
|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1.570174 |
| 0.400695 | 1.569812 |
| 0.401392 | 1.569453 |
| 0.40209 | 1.569098 |
| 0.402789 | 1.568745 |
| 0.40349 | 1.568396 |
| 0.404191 | 1.568049 |
| 0.404894 | 1.567706 |
| 0.405598 | 1.567366 |
| 0.406303 | 1.567028 |
| 0.40701 | 1.566694 |
| 0.407717 | 1.566362 |
| 0.408426 | 1.566034 |
| 0.409136 | 1.565708 |
| 0.409848 | 1.565385 |
| 0.41056 | 1.565065 |
| 0.411274 | 1.564747 |
| 0.411989 | 1.564432 |
| 0.412706 | 1.56412 |
| 0.413423 | 1.56381 |
| 0.414142 | 1.563503 |
| 0.414862 | 1.563199 |
| 0.415583 | 1.562897 |
| 0.416306 | 1.562597 |
| 0.41703 | 1.5623 |
| 0.417755 | 1.562006 |
| 0.418481 | 1.561714 |
| 0.419209 | 1.561424 |
| 0.419938 | 1.561136 |
| 0.420668 | 1.560851 |
| 0.421399 | 1.560568 |
| 0.422132 | 1.560288 |
| 0.422866 | 1.560009 |
| 0.423601 | 1.559733 |
| 0.424338 | 1.559459 |
| 0.425076 | 1.559188 |
| 0.425815 | 1.558918 |
| 0.426555 | 1.55865 |
| 0.427297 | 1.558385 |
| 0.42804 | 1.558121 |
| 0.428784 | 1.55786 |
| 0.429529 | 1.557601 |
| 0.430276 | 1.557343 |
| 0.431024 | 1.557088 |
| 0.431774 | 1.556835 |
| 0.432525 | 1.556583 |
| 0.433277 | 1.556333 |
| 0.43403 | 1.556086 |
| 0.434785 | 1.55584 |
| 0.435541 | 1.555596 |
| 0.436298 | 1.555354 |
| 0.437056 | 1.555113 |
| 0.437816 | 1.554875 |
| 0.438578 | 1.554638 |
| 0.43934 | 1.554403 |
| 0.440104 | 1.554169 |
| 0.440869 | 1.553938 |
| 0.441636 | 1.553708 |
| 0.442404 | 1.55348 |
| 0.443173 | 1.553253 |
| 0.443943 | 1.553028 |
| 0.444715 | 1.552805 |
| 0.445489 | 1.552583 |
| 0.446263 | 1.552363 |
| 0.447039 | 1.552144 |
| 0.447816 | 1.551927 |
| 0.448595 | 1.551712 |
| 0.449375 | 1.551498 |
| 0.450156 | 1.551286 |
| 0.450939 | 1.551075 |
| 0.451723 | 1.550865 |
| 0.452508 | 1.550657 |
| 0.453295 | 1.550451 |
| 0.454083 | 1.550246 |
| 0.454873 | 1.550042 |
| 0.455664 | 1.54984 |
| 0.456456 | 1.549639 |
| 0.45725 | 1.54944 |
| 0.458045 | 1.549242 |
| 0.458841 | 1.549045 |
| 0.459639 | 1.548849 |
| 0.460438 | 1.548655 |
| 0.461239 | 1.548463 |
| 0.462041 | 1.548271 |
| 0.462844 | 1.548081 |
| 0.463649 | 1.547892 |
| 0.464455 | 1.547705 |
| 0.465263 | 1.547518 |
| 0.466072 | 1.547333 |
| 0.466882 | 1.547149 |
| 0.467694 | 1.546967 |
| 0.468507 | 1.546785 |
| 0.469321 | 1.546605 |
| 0.470137 | 1.546426 |
| 0.470955 | 1.546248 |
| 0.471774 | 1.546071 |
| 0.472594 | 1.545896 |
| 0.473416 | 1.545721 |
| 0.474239 | 1.545548 |
| 0.475063 | 1.545376 |
| 0.475889 | 1.545205 |
| 0.476717 | 1.545035 |
| 0.477546 | 1.544866 |
| 0.478376 | 1.544699 |
| 0.479208 | 1.544532 |
| 0.480041 | 1.544366 |
| 0.480876 | 1.544202 |
| 0.481712 | 1.544038 |
| 0.482549 | 1.543876 |
| 0.483388 | 1.543714 |
| 0.484229 | 1.543554 |
| 0.485071 | 1.543395 |
| 0.485914 | 1.543236 |
| 0.486759 | 1.543079 |
| 0.487605 | 1.542922 |
| 0.488453 | 1.542767 |
| 0.489303 | 1.542612 |
| 0.490153 | 1.542459 |
| 0.491006 | 1.542306 |
| 0.491859 | 1.542155 |
| 0.492714 | 1.542004 |
| 0.493571 | 1.541854 |
| 0.494429 | 1.541705 |
| 0.495289 | 1.541557 |
| 0.49615 | 1.54141 |
| 0.497013 | 1.541264 |
| 0.497877 | 1.541119 |
| 0.498743 | 1.540975 |
| 0.49961 | 1.540831 |
| 0.500479 | 1.540688 |
| 0.501349 | 1.540547 |
| 0.50222 | 1.540406 |
| 0.503094 | 1.540266 |
| 0.503968 | 1.540126 |
| 0.504845 | 1.539988 |
| 0.505722 | 1.53985 |
| 0.506602 | 1.539714 |
| 0.507483 | 1.539578 |
| 0.508365 | 1.539443 |
| 0.509249 | 1.539308 |
| 0.510134 | 1.539175 |
| 0.511021 | 1.539042 |
| 0.51191 | 1.53891 |
| 0.5128 | 1.538779 |
| 0.513692 | 1.538648 |
| 0.514585 | 1.538519 |
| 0.515479 | 1.53839 |
| 0.516376 | 1.538262 |
| 0.517274 | 1.538134 |
| 0.518173 | 1.538008 |
| 0.519074 | 1.537882 |
| 0.519976 | 1.537756 |
| 0.52088 | 1.537632 |
| 0.521786 | 1.537508 |
| 0.522693 | 1.537385 |
| 0.523602 | 1.537263 |
| 0.524513 | 1.537141 |
| 0.525425 | 1.53702 |
| 0.526338 | 1.5369 |
| 0.527253 | 1.53678 |
| 0.52817 | 1.536661 |
| 0.529088 | 1.536543 |
| 0.530008 | 1.536425 |
| 0.53093 | 1.536308 |
| 0.531853 | 1.536192 |
| 0.532778 | 1.536076 |
| 0.533704 | 1.535961 |
| 0.534632 | 1.535847 |
| 0.535562 | 1.535733 |
| 0.536493 | 1.53562 |
| 0.537426 | 1.535508 |
| 0.53836 | 1.535396 |
| 0.539296 | 1.535285 |
| 0.540234 | 1.535174 |
| 0.541173 | 1.535064 |
| 0.542114 | 1.534955 |
| 0.543057 | 1.534846 |
| 0.544001 | 1.534738 |
| 0.544947 | 1.534631 |
| 0.545894 | 1.534524 |
| 0.546843 | 1.534417 |
| 0.547794 | 1.534311 |
| 0.548747 | 1.534206 |
| 0.549701 | 1.534102 |
| 0.550657 | 1.533998 |
| 0.551614 | 1.533894 |
| 0.552573 | 1.533791 |
| 0.553534 | 1.533689 |
| 0.554496 | 1.533587 |
| 0.55546 | 1.533485 |
| 0.556426 | 1.533385 |
| 0.557394 | 1.533284 |
| 0.558363 | 1.533185 |
| 0.559334 | 1.533086 |
| 0.560306 | 1.532987 |
| 0.56128 | 1.532889 |
| 0.562256 | 1.532791 |
| 0.563234 | 1.532694 |
| 0.564213 | 1.532598 |
| 0.565194 | 1.532502 |
| 0.566177 | 1.532406 |
| 0.567161 | 1.532311 |
| 0.568148 | 1.532217 |
| 0.569135 | 1.532123 |
| 0.570125 | 1.532029 |
| 0.571116 | 1.531936 |
| 0.572109 | 1.531844 |
| 0.573104 | 1.531751 |
| 0.5741 | 1.53166 |
| 0.575099 | 1.531569 |
| 0.576099 | 1.531478 |
| 0.5771 | 1.531388 |
| 0.578104 | 1.531298 |
| 0.579109 | 1.531209 |
| 0.580116 | 1.53112 |
| 0.581124 | 1.531032 |
| 0.582135 | 1.530944 |
| 0.583147 | 1.530857 |
| 0.584161 | 1.53077 |
| 0.585177 | 1.530683 |
| 0.586194 | 1.530597 |
| 0.587213 | 1.530512 |
| 0.588234 | 1.530426 |
| 0.589257 | 1.530342 |
| 0.590282 | 1.530257 |
| 0.591308 | 1.530173 |
| 0.592336 | 1.53009 |
| 0.593366 | 1.530007 |
| 0.594398 | 1.529924 |
| 0.595431 | 1.529842 |
| 0.596466 | 1.52976 |
| 0.597504 | 1.529679 |
| 0.598542 | 1.529598 |
| 0.599583 | 1.529517 |
| 0.600626 | 1.529437 |
| 0.60167 | 1.529357 |
| 0.602716 | 1.529278 |
| 0.603764 | 1.529199 |
| 0.604814 | 1.529121 |
| 0.605865 | 1.529042 |
| 0.606919 | 1.528965 |
| 0.607974 | 1.528887 |
| 0.609031 | 1.52881 |
| 0.61009 | 1.528734 |
| 0.611151 | 1.528657 |
| 0.612214 | 1.528581 |
| 0.613278 | 1.528506 |
| 0.614344 | 1.528431 |
| 0.615413 | 1.528356 |
| 0.616483 | 1.528282 |
| 0.617554 | 1.528208 |
| 0.618628 | 1.528134 |
| 0.619704 | 1.528061 |
| 0.620781 | 1.527988 |
| 0.621861 | 1.527915 |
| 0.622942 | 1.527843 |
| 0.624025 | 1.527771 |
| 0.62511 | 1.5277 |
| 0.626197 | 1.527628 |
| 0.627286 | 1.527558 |
| 0.628376 | 1.527487 |
| 0.629469 | 1.527417 |
| 0.630563 | 1.527347 |
| 0.63166 | 1.527278 |
| 0.632758 | 1.527209 |
| 0.633858 | 1.52714 |
| 0.63496 | 1.527071 |
| 0.636064 | 1.527003 |
| 0.63717 | 1.526935 |
| 0.638278 | 1.526868 |
| 0.639388 | 1.526801 |
| 0.6405 | 1.526734 |
| 0.641613 | 1.526667 |
| 0.642729 | 1.526601 |
| 0.643847 | 1.526535 |
| 0.644966 | 1.52647 |
| 0.646087 | 1.526405 |
| 0.647211 | 1.52634 |
| 0.648336 | 1.526275 |
| 0.649463 | 1.526211 |
| 0.650593 | 1.526147 |
| 0.651724 | 1.526083 |
| 0.652857 | 1.52602 |
| 0.653992 | 1.525956 |
| 0.655129 | 1.525894 |
| 0.656268 | 1.525831 |
| 0.657409 | 1.525769 |
| 0.658552 | 1.525707 |
| 0.659697 | 1.525645 |
| 0.660844 | 1.525584 |
| 0.661993 | 1.525523 |
| 0.663145 | 1.525462 |
| 0.664298 | 1.525402 |
| 0.665453 | 1.525341 |
| 0.66661 | 1.525281 |
| 0.667769 | 1.525222 |
| 0.66893 | 1.525162 |
| 0.670093 | 1.525103 |
| 0.671258 | 1.525044 |
| 0.672425 | 1.524986 |
| 0.673594 | 1.524928 |
| 0.674765 | 1.52487 |
| 0.675939 | 1.524812 |
| 0.677114 | 1.524754 |
| 0.678291 | 1.524697 |
| 0.679471 | 1.52464 |
| 0.680652 | 1.524583 |
| 0.681835 | 1.524527 |
| 0.683021 | 1.524471 |
| 0.684209 | 1.524415 |
| 0.685398 | 1.524359 |
| 0.68659 | 1.524304 |
| 0.687784 | 1.524249 |
| 0.68898 | 1.524194 |
| 0.690177 | 1.524139 |
| 0.691378 | 1.524085 |
| 0.69258 | 1.524031 |
| 0.693784 | 1.523977 |
| 0.69499 | 1.523923 |
| 0.696199 | 1.52387 |
| 0.697409 | 1.523817 |
| 0.698622 | 1.523764 |
| 0.699836 | 1.523711 |
| 0.701053 | 1.523659 |
| 0.702272 | 1.523606 |
| 0.703493 | 1.523554 |
| 0.704716 | 1.523503 |
| 0.705942 | 1.523451 |
| 0.707169 | 1.5234 |
| 0.708399 | 1.523349 |
| 0.70963 | 1.523298 |
| 0.710864 | 1.523247 |
| 0.7121 | 1.523197 |
| 0.713338 | 1.523147 |
| 0.714579 | 1.523097 |
| 0.715821 | 1.523047 |
| 0.717066 | 1.522998 |
| 0.718312 | 1.522949 |
| 0.719561 | 1.5229 |
| 0.720813 | 1.522851 |
| 0.722066 | 1.522802 |
| 0.723321 | 1.522754 |
| 0.724579 | 1.522706 |
| 0.725839 | 1.522658 |
| 0.727101 | 1.52261 |
| 0.728365 | 1.522563 |
| 0.729631 | 1.522515 |
| 0.7309 | 1.522468 |
| 0.732171 | 1.522421 |
| 0.733444 | 1.522375 |
| 0.734719 | 1.522328 |
| 0.735997 | 1.522282 |
| 0.737276 | 1.522236 |
| 0.738558 | 1.52219 |
| 0.739842 | 1.522144 |
| 0.741129 | 1.522099 |
| 0.742417 | 1.522054 |
| 0.743708 | 1.522008 |
| 0.745001 | 1.521964 |
| 0.746297 | 1.521919 |
| 0.747594 | 1.521874 |
| 0.748894 | 1.52183 |
| 0.750196 | 1.521786 |
| 0.751501 | 1.521742 |
| 0.752807 | 1.521699 |
| 0.754116 | 1.521655 |
| 0.755427 | 1.521612 |
| 0.756741 | 1.521569 |
| 0.758057 | 1.521526 |
| 0.759375 | 1.521483 |
| 0.760695 | 1.52144 |
| 0.762018 | 1.521398 |
| 0.763343 | 1.521356 |
| 0.76467 | 1.521314 |
| 0.765999 | 1.521272 |
| 0.767331 | 1.52123 |
| 0.768665 | 1.521189 |
| 0.770002 | 1.521147 |
| 0.771341 | 1.521106 |
| 0.772682 | 1.521065 |
| 0.774025 | 1.521025 |
| 0.775371 | 1.520984 |
| 0.776719 | 1.520944 |
| 0.77807 | 1.520903 |
| 0.779423 | 1.520863 |
| 0.780778 | 1.520823 |
| 0.782135 | 1.520784 |
| 0.783495 | 1.520744 |
| 0.784858 | 1.520705 |
| 0.786222 | 1.520666 |
| 0.787589 | 1.520627 |
| 0.788959 | 1.520588 |
| 0.790331 | 1.520549 |
| 0.791705 | 1.52051 |
| 0.793081 | 1.520472 |
| 0.79446 | 1.520434 |
| 0.795842 | 1.520396 |
| 0.797225 | 1.520358 |
| 0.798611 | 1.52032 |
| 0.8 | 1.520283 |
Optical transmission calculator
Free-standing sample in vacuum, normal incidence- Transmittance T
- —
- Reflectance R
- —
Fresnel reflection calculator
- Rp
- —
- Rs
- —
- R = (Rp+Rs)/2
- —
- Phase φp
- —
- Phase φs
- —
- Brewster angle θB
- —
- Critical angle θC
- —
25.1 °C. Ordinary ray (o).