Optical constants
Refractive index of 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl)
Wu et al. 1993: n(e) 0.4–0.8 µm; 27.2 °C
- Data
- formula 6
- Range
- 0.4–0.8 µm
- Temperature
- 300.35 K
- Optical axis
- e
- Licence
- CC0-1.0
Uniaxial crystal, axes: oe
Plot
Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.
At one wavelength
- Refractive index n
- 1.70577
- Extinction coefficient k
- 0
- Permittivity ε1
- 2.90966
- Permittivity ε2
- 0
- Absorption coefficient α
- 0 cm⁻¹
- Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
- — nm
- Abbe number Vd
- 17.276
- Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
- -0.195129 µm⁻¹
- Group index ng
- 1.82043
- Group velocity dispersion
- 481.068 fs²/mm
- Dispersion parameter D
- -2624.48 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(e) 0.4–0.8 µm; 27.2 °C
mat = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("other", "5CB", "Wu-27.2C-e", 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_13c2f492a6bc/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-1993-27-2c-e).
# ... 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 | 0.4603 |
| C2 | 2.0874 |
| C3 | 22.6757 |
| C4 | 1.3544 |
| C5 | 12.5748 |
Comments and conditions
Conditions
- temperature
- 300.35 K
- direction
- e
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 | 1.801523 |
| 0.400695 | 1.800624 |
| 0.401392 | 1.799733 |
| 0.40209 | 1.798851 |
| 0.402789 | 1.797977 |
| 0.40349 | 1.797112 |
| 0.404191 | 1.796254 |
| 0.404894 | 1.795405 |
| 0.405598 | 1.794563 |
| 0.406303 | 1.793729 |
| 0.40701 | 1.792902 |
| 0.407717 | 1.792084 |
| 0.408426 | 1.791272 |
| 0.409136 | 1.790468 |
| 0.409848 | 1.789671 |
| 0.41056 | 1.788881 |
| 0.411274 | 1.788098 |
| 0.411989 | 1.787323 |
| 0.412706 | 1.786554 |
| 0.413423 | 1.785791 |
| 0.414142 | 1.785036 |
| 0.414862 | 1.784287 |
| 0.415583 | 1.783545 |
| 0.416306 | 1.782809 |
| 0.41703 | 1.782079 |
| 0.417755 | 1.781356 |
| 0.418481 | 1.780638 |
| 0.419209 | 1.779927 |
| 0.419938 | 1.779222 |
| 0.420668 | 1.778523 |
| 0.421399 | 1.77783 |
| 0.422132 | 1.777143 |
| 0.422866 | 1.776461 |
| 0.423601 | 1.775785 |
| 0.424338 | 1.775115 |
| 0.425076 | 1.77445 |
| 0.425815 | 1.773791 |
| 0.426555 | 1.773137 |
| 0.427297 | 1.772489 |
| 0.42804 | 1.771845 |
| 0.428784 | 1.771207 |
| 0.429529 | 1.770574 |
| 0.430276 | 1.769947 |
| 0.431024 | 1.769324 |
| 0.431774 | 1.768706 |
| 0.432525 | 1.768093 |
| 0.433277 | 1.767485 |
| 0.43403 | 1.766882 |
| 0.434785 | 1.766284 |
| 0.435541 | 1.76569 |
| 0.436298 | 1.765101 |
| 0.437056 | 1.764517 |
| 0.437816 | 1.763937 |
| 0.438578 | 1.763362 |
| 0.43934 | 1.762791 |
| 0.440104 | 1.762224 |
| 0.440869 | 1.761662 |
| 0.441636 | 1.761104 |
| 0.442404 | 1.760551 |
| 0.443173 | 1.760001 |
| 0.443943 | 1.759456 |
| 0.444715 | 1.758915 |
| 0.445489 | 1.758378 |
| 0.446263 | 1.757845 |
| 0.447039 | 1.757316 |
| 0.447816 | 1.756791 |
| 0.448595 | 1.75627 |
| 0.449375 | 1.755753 |
| 0.450156 | 1.755239 |
| 0.450939 | 1.754729 |
| 0.451723 | 1.754223 |
| 0.452508 | 1.753721 |
| 0.453295 | 1.753223 |
| 0.454083 | 1.752728 |
| 0.454873 | 1.752236 |
| 0.455664 | 1.751749 |
| 0.456456 | 1.751264 |
| 0.45725 | 1.750784 |
| 0.458045 | 1.750306 |
| 0.458841 | 1.749832 |
| 0.459639 | 1.749362 |
| 0.460438 | 1.748894 |
| 0.461239 | 1.748431 |
| 0.462041 | 1.74797 |
| 0.462844 | 1.747513 |
| 0.463649 | 1.747058 |
| 0.464455 | 1.746607 |
| 0.465263 | 1.74616 |
| 0.466072 | 1.745715 |
| 0.466882 | 1.745273 |
| 0.467694 | 1.744835 |
| 0.468507 | 1.744399 |
| 0.469321 | 1.743967 |
| 0.470137 | 1.743537 |
| 0.470955 | 1.74311 |
| 0.471774 | 1.742687 |
| 0.472594 | 1.742266 |
| 0.473416 | 1.741848 |
| 0.474239 | 1.741433 |
| 0.475063 | 1.741021 |
| 0.475889 | 1.740611 |
| 0.476717 | 1.740204 |
| 0.477546 | 1.7398 |
| 0.478376 | 1.739399 |
| 0.479208 | 1.739 |
| 0.480041 | 1.738604 |
| 0.480876 | 1.738211 |
| 0.481712 | 1.73782 |
| 0.482549 | 1.737432 |
| 0.483388 | 1.737046 |
| 0.484229 | 1.736663 |
| 0.485071 | 1.736282 |
| 0.485914 | 1.735904 |
| 0.486759 | 1.735528 |
| 0.487605 | 1.735155 |
| 0.488453 | 1.734784 |
| 0.489303 | 1.734416 |
| 0.490153 | 1.73405 |
| 0.491006 | 1.733686 |
| 0.491859 | 1.733325 |
| 0.492714 | 1.732966 |
| 0.493571 | 1.732609 |
| 0.494429 | 1.732255 |
| 0.495289 | 1.731903 |
| 0.49615 | 1.731553 |
| 0.497013 | 1.731205 |
| 0.497877 | 1.730859 |
| 0.498743 | 1.730516 |
| 0.49961 | 1.730175 |
| 0.500479 | 1.729836 |
| 0.501349 | 1.729499 |
| 0.50222 | 1.729164 |
| 0.503094 | 1.728831 |
| 0.503968 | 1.7285 |
| 0.504845 | 1.728172 |
| 0.505722 | 1.727845 |
| 0.506602 | 1.727521 |
| 0.507483 | 1.727198 |
| 0.508365 | 1.726877 |
| 0.509249 | 1.726559 |
| 0.510134 | 1.726242 |
| 0.511021 | 1.725927 |
| 0.51191 | 1.725614 |
| 0.5128 | 1.725304 |
| 0.513692 | 1.724994 |
| 0.514585 | 1.724687 |
| 0.515479 | 1.724382 |
| 0.516376 | 1.724078 |
| 0.517274 | 1.723777 |
| 0.518173 | 1.723477 |
| 0.519074 | 1.723179 |
| 0.519976 | 1.722883 |
| 0.52088 | 1.722588 |
| 0.521786 | 1.722295 |
| 0.522693 | 1.722004 |
| 0.523602 | 1.721715 |
| 0.524513 | 1.721428 |
| 0.525425 | 1.721142 |
| 0.526338 | 1.720857 |
| 0.527253 | 1.720575 |
| 0.52817 | 1.720294 |
| 0.529088 | 1.720015 |
| 0.530008 | 1.719737 |
| 0.53093 | 1.719461 |
| 0.531853 | 1.719187 |
| 0.532778 | 1.718914 |
| 0.533704 | 1.718643 |
| 0.534632 | 1.718373 |
| 0.535562 | 1.718105 |
| 0.536493 | 1.717839 |
| 0.537426 | 1.717574 |
| 0.53836 | 1.71731 |
| 0.539296 | 1.717048 |
| 0.540234 | 1.716788 |
| 0.541173 | 1.716529 |
| 0.542114 | 1.716271 |
| 0.543057 | 1.716015 |
| 0.544001 | 1.715761 |
| 0.544947 | 1.715508 |
| 0.545894 | 1.715256 |
| 0.546843 | 1.715006 |
| 0.547794 | 1.714757 |
| 0.548747 | 1.714509 |
| 0.549701 | 1.714263 |
| 0.550657 | 1.714018 |
| 0.551614 | 1.713775 |
| 0.552573 | 1.713533 |
| 0.553534 | 1.713292 |
| 0.554496 | 1.713053 |
| 0.55546 | 1.712815 |
| 0.556426 | 1.712579 |
| 0.557394 | 1.712343 |
| 0.558363 | 1.712109 |
| 0.559334 | 1.711876 |
| 0.560306 | 1.711645 |
| 0.56128 | 1.711415 |
| 0.562256 | 1.711186 |
| 0.563234 | 1.710958 |
| 0.564213 | 1.710732 |
| 0.565194 | 1.710506 |
| 0.566177 | 1.710283 |
| 0.567161 | 1.71006 |
| 0.568148 | 1.709838 |
| 0.569135 | 1.709618 |
| 0.570125 | 1.709399 |
| 0.571116 | 1.709181 |
| 0.572109 | 1.708964 |
| 0.573104 | 1.708748 |
| 0.5741 | 1.708534 |
| 0.575099 | 1.708321 |
| 0.576099 | 1.708108 |
| 0.5771 | 1.707897 |
| 0.578104 | 1.707687 |
| 0.579109 | 1.707479 |
| 0.580116 | 1.707271 |
| 0.581124 | 1.707064 |
| 0.582135 | 1.706859 |
| 0.583147 | 1.706655 |
| 0.584161 | 1.706451 |
| 0.585177 | 1.706249 |
| 0.586194 | 1.706048 |
| 0.587213 | 1.705848 |
| 0.588234 | 1.705649 |
| 0.589257 | 1.705451 |
| 0.590282 | 1.705254 |
| 0.591308 | 1.705058 |
| 0.592336 | 1.704863 |
| 0.593366 | 1.704669 |
| 0.594398 | 1.704476 |
| 0.595431 | 1.704284 |
| 0.596466 | 1.704093 |
| 0.597504 | 1.703903 |
| 0.598542 | 1.703714 |
| 0.599583 | 1.703526 |
| 0.600626 | 1.703339 |
| 0.60167 | 1.703153 |
| 0.602716 | 1.702968 |
| 0.603764 | 1.702784 |
| 0.604814 | 1.702601 |
| 0.605865 | 1.702419 |
| 0.606919 | 1.702238 |
| 0.607974 | 1.702057 |
| 0.609031 | 1.701878 |
| 0.61009 | 1.701699 |
| 0.611151 | 1.701522 |
| 0.612214 | 1.701345 |
| 0.613278 | 1.701169 |
| 0.614344 | 1.700994 |
| 0.615413 | 1.70082 |
| 0.616483 | 1.700647 |
| 0.617554 | 1.700475 |
| 0.618628 | 1.700303 |
| 0.619704 | 1.700133 |
| 0.620781 | 1.699963 |
| 0.621861 | 1.699794 |
| 0.622942 | 1.699626 |
| 0.624025 | 1.699459 |
| 0.62511 | 1.699293 |
| 0.626197 | 1.699127 |
| 0.627286 | 1.698963 |
| 0.628376 | 1.698799 |
| 0.629469 | 1.698636 |
| 0.630563 | 1.698473 |
| 0.63166 | 1.698312 |
| 0.632758 | 1.698151 |
| 0.633858 | 1.697992 |
| 0.63496 | 1.697833 |
| 0.636064 | 1.697674 |
| 0.63717 | 1.697517 |
| 0.638278 | 1.69736 |
| 0.639388 | 1.697204 |
| 0.6405 | 1.697049 |
| 0.641613 | 1.696895 |
| 0.642729 | 1.696741 |
| 0.643847 | 1.696588 |
| 0.644966 | 1.696436 |
| 0.646087 | 1.696284 |
| 0.647211 | 1.696134 |
| 0.648336 | 1.695984 |
| 0.649463 | 1.695835 |
| 0.650593 | 1.695686 |
| 0.651724 | 1.695538 |
| 0.652857 | 1.695391 |
| 0.653992 | 1.695245 |
| 0.655129 | 1.695099 |
| 0.656268 | 1.694954 |
| 0.657409 | 1.69481 |
| 0.658552 | 1.694667 |
| 0.659697 | 1.694524 |
| 0.660844 | 1.694382 |
| 0.661993 | 1.69424 |
| 0.663145 | 1.694099 |
| 0.664298 | 1.693959 |
| 0.665453 | 1.69382 |
| 0.66661 | 1.693681 |
| 0.667769 | 1.693543 |
| 0.66893 | 1.693405 |
| 0.670093 | 1.693268 |
| 0.671258 | 1.693132 |
| 0.672425 | 1.692997 |
| 0.673594 | 1.692862 |
| 0.674765 | 1.692728 |
| 0.675939 | 1.692594 |
| 0.677114 | 1.692461 |
| 0.678291 | 1.692329 |
| 0.679471 | 1.692197 |
| 0.680652 | 1.692066 |
| 0.681835 | 1.691935 |
| 0.683021 | 1.691805 |
| 0.684209 | 1.691676 |
| 0.685398 | 1.691547 |
| 0.68659 | 1.691419 |
| 0.687784 | 1.691292 |
| 0.68898 | 1.691165 |
| 0.690177 | 1.691039 |
| 0.691378 | 1.690913 |
| 0.69258 | 1.690788 |
| 0.693784 | 1.690663 |
| 0.69499 | 1.69054 |
| 0.696199 | 1.690416 |
| 0.697409 | 1.690293 |
| 0.698622 | 1.690171 |
| 0.699836 | 1.690049 |
| 0.701053 | 1.689928 |
| 0.702272 | 1.689808 |
| 0.703493 | 1.689688 |
| 0.704716 | 1.689568 |
| 0.705942 | 1.68945 |
| 0.707169 | 1.689331 |
| 0.708399 | 1.689213 |
| 0.70963 | 1.689096 |
| 0.710864 | 1.688979 |
| 0.7121 | 1.688863 |
| 0.713338 | 1.688748 |
| 0.714579 | 1.688632 |
| 0.715821 | 1.688518 |
| 0.717066 | 1.688404 |
| 0.718312 | 1.68829 |
| 0.719561 | 1.688177 |
| 0.720813 | 1.688065 |
| 0.722066 | 1.687953 |
| 0.723321 | 1.687841 |
| 0.724579 | 1.68773 |
| 0.725839 | 1.68762 |
| 0.727101 | 1.68751 |
| 0.728365 | 1.6874 |
| 0.729631 | 1.687291 |
| 0.7309 | 1.687183 |
| 0.732171 | 1.687075 |
| 0.733444 | 1.686967 |
| 0.734719 | 1.68686 |
| 0.735997 | 1.686754 |
| 0.737276 | 1.686647 |
| 0.738558 | 1.686542 |
| 0.739842 | 1.686437 |
| 0.741129 | 1.686332 |
| 0.742417 | 1.686228 |
| 0.743708 | 1.686124 |
| 0.745001 | 1.686021 |
| 0.746297 | 1.685918 |
| 0.747594 | 1.685816 |
| 0.748894 | 1.685714 |
| 0.750196 | 1.685612 |
| 0.751501 | 1.685511 |
| 0.752807 | 1.685411 |
| 0.754116 | 1.685311 |
| 0.755427 | 1.685211 |
| 0.756741 | 1.685112 |
| 0.758057 | 1.685013 |
| 0.759375 | 1.684915 |
| 0.760695 | 1.684817 |
| 0.762018 | 1.684719 |
| 0.763343 | 1.684622 |
| 0.76467 | 1.684526 |
| 0.765999 | 1.684429 |
| 0.767331 | 1.684334 |
| 0.768665 | 1.684238 |
| 0.770002 | 1.684143 |
| 0.771341 | 1.684049 |
| 0.772682 | 1.683955 |
| 0.774025 | 1.683861 |
| 0.775371 | 1.683768 |
| 0.776719 | 1.683675 |
| 0.77807 | 1.683583 |
| 0.779423 | 1.683491 |
| 0.780778 | 1.683399 |
| 0.782135 | 1.683308 |
| 0.783495 | 1.683217 |
| 0.784858 | 1.683126 |
| 0.786222 | 1.683036 |
| 0.787589 | 1.682947 |
| 0.788959 | 1.682857 |
| 0.790331 | 1.682768 |
| 0.791705 | 1.68268 |
| 0.793081 | 1.682592 |
| 0.79446 | 1.682504 |
| 0.795842 | 1.682417 |
| 0.797225 | 1.68233 |
| 0.798611 | 1.682243 |
| 0.8 | 1.682157 |
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
- —
29.9 °C. Extraordinary ray (e).