Optical constants
Refractive index of 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl)
Wu et al. 1993: n(o) 0.4–0.8 µm; 27.2 °C
- Data
- formula 6
- Range
- 0.4–0.8 µm
- Temperature
- 300.35 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
- 1.5321
- Extinction coefficient k
- 0
- Permittivity ε1
- 2.34732
- Permittivity ε2
- 0
- Absorption coefficient α
- 0 cm⁻¹
- Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
- — nm
- Abbe number Vd
- 30.191
- Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
- -0.0847441 µm⁻¹
- Group index ng
- 1.58189
- Group velocity dispersion
- 204.628 fs²/mm
- Dispersion parameter D
- -1116.35 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; 27.2 °C
mat = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("other", "5CB", "Wu-27.2C-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_e20778837e70/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-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 | 0.4137 |
| C2 | 1.3631 |
| C3 | 22.6757 |
| C4 | 0.4789 |
| C5 | 12.5748 |
Comments and conditions
Conditions
- temperature
- 300.35 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 | 1.572404 |
| 0.400695 | 1.572036 |
| 0.401392 | 1.571671 |
| 0.40209 | 1.57131 |
| 0.402789 | 1.570951 |
| 0.40349 | 1.570596 |
| 0.404191 | 1.570244 |
| 0.404894 | 1.569896 |
| 0.405598 | 1.56955 |
| 0.406303 | 1.569207 |
| 0.40701 | 1.568868 |
| 0.407717 | 1.568531 |
| 0.408426 | 1.568197 |
| 0.409136 | 1.567866 |
| 0.409848 | 1.567538 |
| 0.41056 | 1.567212 |
| 0.411274 | 1.56689 |
| 0.411989 | 1.56657 |
| 0.412706 | 1.566253 |
| 0.413423 | 1.565938 |
| 0.414142 | 1.565626 |
| 0.414862 | 1.565317 |
| 0.415583 | 1.56501 |
| 0.416306 | 1.564706 |
| 0.41703 | 1.564404 |
| 0.417755 | 1.564105 |
| 0.418481 | 1.563808 |
| 0.419209 | 1.563514 |
| 0.419938 | 1.563222 |
| 0.420668 | 1.562932 |
| 0.421399 | 1.562645 |
| 0.422132 | 1.56236 |
| 0.422866 | 1.562077 |
| 0.423601 | 1.561797 |
| 0.424338 | 1.561519 |
| 0.425076 | 1.561243 |
| 0.425815 | 1.560969 |
| 0.426555 | 1.560697 |
| 0.427297 | 1.560427 |
| 0.42804 | 1.56016 |
| 0.428784 | 1.559894 |
| 0.429529 | 1.559631 |
| 0.430276 | 1.559369 |
| 0.431024 | 1.55911 |
| 0.431774 | 1.558853 |
| 0.432525 | 1.558597 |
| 0.433277 | 1.558344 |
| 0.43403 | 1.558092 |
| 0.434785 | 1.557842 |
| 0.435541 | 1.557595 |
| 0.436298 | 1.557349 |
| 0.437056 | 1.557105 |
| 0.437816 | 1.556862 |
| 0.438578 | 1.556622 |
| 0.43934 | 1.556383 |
| 0.440104 | 1.556146 |
| 0.440869 | 1.555911 |
| 0.441636 | 1.555677 |
| 0.442404 | 1.555446 |
| 0.443173 | 1.555215 |
| 0.443943 | 1.554987 |
| 0.444715 | 1.55476 |
| 0.445489 | 1.554535 |
| 0.446263 | 1.554312 |
| 0.447039 | 1.55409 |
| 0.447816 | 1.553869 |
| 0.448595 | 1.55365 |
| 0.449375 | 1.553433 |
| 0.450156 | 1.553218 |
| 0.450939 | 1.553003 |
| 0.451723 | 1.552791 |
| 0.452508 | 1.55258 |
| 0.453295 | 1.55237 |
| 0.454083 | 1.552162 |
| 0.454873 | 1.551955 |
| 0.455664 | 1.551749 |
| 0.456456 | 1.551546 |
| 0.45725 | 1.551343 |
| 0.458045 | 1.551142 |
| 0.458841 | 1.550942 |
| 0.459639 | 1.550744 |
| 0.460438 | 1.550547 |
| 0.461239 | 1.550351 |
| 0.462041 | 1.550157 |
| 0.462844 | 1.549963 |
| 0.463649 | 1.549772 |
| 0.464455 | 1.549581 |
| 0.465263 | 1.549392 |
| 0.466072 | 1.549204 |
| 0.466882 | 1.549017 |
| 0.467694 | 1.548832 |
| 0.468507 | 1.548648 |
| 0.469321 | 1.548465 |
| 0.470137 | 1.548283 |
| 0.470955 | 1.548102 |
| 0.471774 | 1.547923 |
| 0.472594 | 1.547745 |
| 0.473416 | 1.547568 |
| 0.474239 | 1.547392 |
| 0.475063 | 1.547217 |
| 0.475889 | 1.547043 |
| 0.476717 | 1.546871 |
| 0.477546 | 1.546699 |
| 0.478376 | 1.546529 |
| 0.479208 | 1.54636 |
| 0.480041 | 1.546192 |
| 0.480876 | 1.546025 |
| 0.481712 | 1.545859 |
| 0.482549 | 1.545694 |
| 0.483388 | 1.54553 |
| 0.484229 | 1.545367 |
| 0.485071 | 1.545205 |
| 0.485914 | 1.545044 |
| 0.486759 | 1.544885 |
| 0.487605 | 1.544726 |
| 0.488453 | 1.544568 |
| 0.489303 | 1.544411 |
| 0.490153 | 1.544255 |
| 0.491006 | 1.5441 |
| 0.491859 | 1.543946 |
| 0.492714 | 1.543793 |
| 0.493571 | 1.543641 |
| 0.494429 | 1.54349 |
| 0.495289 | 1.54334 |
| 0.49615 | 1.543191 |
| 0.497013 | 1.543042 |
| 0.497877 | 1.542895 |
| 0.498743 | 1.542748 |
| 0.49961 | 1.542603 |
| 0.500479 | 1.542458 |
| 0.501349 | 1.542314 |
| 0.50222 | 1.542171 |
| 0.503094 | 1.542029 |
| 0.503968 | 1.541887 |
| 0.504845 | 1.541747 |
| 0.505722 | 1.541607 |
| 0.506602 | 1.541469 |
| 0.507483 | 1.541331 |
| 0.508365 | 1.541193 |
| 0.509249 | 1.541057 |
| 0.510134 | 1.540921 |
| 0.511021 | 1.540787 |
| 0.51191 | 1.540653 |
| 0.5128 | 1.540519 |
| 0.513692 | 1.540387 |
| 0.514585 | 1.540255 |
| 0.515479 | 1.540125 |
| 0.516376 | 1.539994 |
| 0.517274 | 1.539865 |
| 0.518173 | 1.539737 |
| 0.519074 | 1.539609 |
| 0.519976 | 1.539482 |
| 0.52088 | 1.539355 |
| 0.521786 | 1.53923 |
| 0.522693 | 1.539105 |
| 0.523602 | 1.53898 |
| 0.524513 | 1.538857 |
| 0.525425 | 1.538734 |
| 0.526338 | 1.538612 |
| 0.527253 | 1.538491 |
| 0.52817 | 1.53837 |
| 0.529088 | 1.53825 |
| 0.530008 | 1.53813 |
| 0.53093 | 1.538012 |
| 0.531853 | 1.537894 |
| 0.532778 | 1.537776 |
| 0.533704 | 1.53766 |
| 0.534632 | 1.537544 |
| 0.535562 | 1.537428 |
| 0.536493 | 1.537313 |
| 0.537426 | 1.537199 |
| 0.53836 | 1.537086 |
| 0.539296 | 1.536973 |
| 0.540234 | 1.536861 |
| 0.541173 | 1.536749 |
| 0.542114 | 1.536638 |
| 0.543057 | 1.536528 |
| 0.544001 | 1.536418 |
| 0.544947 | 1.536309 |
| 0.545894 | 1.5362 |
| 0.546843 | 1.536092 |
| 0.547794 | 1.535985 |
| 0.548747 | 1.535878 |
| 0.549701 | 1.535772 |
| 0.550657 | 1.535666 |
| 0.551614 | 1.535561 |
| 0.552573 | 1.535457 |
| 0.553534 | 1.535353 |
| 0.554496 | 1.535249 |
| 0.55546 | 1.535147 |
| 0.556426 | 1.535044 |
| 0.557394 | 1.534943 |
| 0.558363 | 1.534841 |
| 0.559334 | 1.534741 |
| 0.560306 | 1.534641 |
| 0.56128 | 1.534541 |
| 0.562256 | 1.534442 |
| 0.563234 | 1.534344 |
| 0.564213 | 1.534246 |
| 0.565194 | 1.534148 |
| 0.566177 | 1.534051 |
| 0.567161 | 1.533955 |
| 0.568148 | 1.533859 |
| 0.569135 | 1.533763 |
| 0.570125 | 1.533668 |
| 0.571116 | 1.533574 |
| 0.572109 | 1.53348 |
| 0.573104 | 1.533387 |
| 0.5741 | 1.533294 |
| 0.575099 | 1.533201 |
| 0.576099 | 1.533109 |
| 0.5771 | 1.533018 |
| 0.578104 | 1.532927 |
| 0.579109 | 1.532836 |
| 0.580116 | 1.532746 |
| 0.581124 | 1.532656 |
| 0.582135 | 1.532567 |
| 0.583147 | 1.532479 |
| 0.584161 | 1.53239 |
| 0.585177 | 1.532303 |
| 0.586194 | 1.532215 |
| 0.587213 | 1.532128 |
| 0.588234 | 1.532042 |
| 0.589257 | 1.531956 |
| 0.590282 | 1.53187 |
| 0.591308 | 1.531785 |
| 0.592336 | 1.5317 |
| 0.593366 | 1.531616 |
| 0.594398 | 1.531532 |
| 0.595431 | 1.531449 |
| 0.596466 | 1.531366 |
| 0.597504 | 1.531283 |
| 0.598542 | 1.531201 |
| 0.599583 | 1.531119 |
| 0.600626 | 1.531038 |
| 0.60167 | 1.530957 |
| 0.602716 | 1.530877 |
| 0.603764 | 1.530797 |
| 0.604814 | 1.530717 |
| 0.605865 | 1.530637 |
| 0.606919 | 1.530559 |
| 0.607974 | 1.53048 |
| 0.609031 | 1.530402 |
| 0.61009 | 1.530324 |
| 0.611151 | 1.530247 |
| 0.612214 | 1.53017 |
| 0.613278 | 1.530093 |
| 0.614344 | 1.530017 |
| 0.615413 | 1.529941 |
| 0.616483 | 1.529866 |
| 0.617554 | 1.52979 |
| 0.618628 | 1.529716 |
| 0.619704 | 1.529641 |
| 0.620781 | 1.529567 |
| 0.621861 | 1.529494 |
| 0.622942 | 1.52942 |
| 0.624025 | 1.529347 |
| 0.62511 | 1.529275 |
| 0.626197 | 1.529203 |
| 0.627286 | 1.529131 |
| 0.628376 | 1.529059 |
| 0.629469 | 1.528988 |
| 0.630563 | 1.528917 |
| 0.63166 | 1.528847 |
| 0.632758 | 1.528777 |
| 0.633858 | 1.528707 |
| 0.63496 | 1.528637 |
| 0.636064 | 1.528568 |
| 0.63717 | 1.528499 |
| 0.638278 | 1.528431 |
| 0.639388 | 1.528363 |
| 0.6405 | 1.528295 |
| 0.641613 | 1.528227 |
| 0.642729 | 1.52816 |
| 0.643847 | 1.528093 |
| 0.644966 | 1.528027 |
| 0.646087 | 1.527961 |
| 0.647211 | 1.527895 |
| 0.648336 | 1.527829 |
| 0.649463 | 1.527764 |
| 0.650593 | 1.527699 |
| 0.651724 | 1.527634 |
| 0.652857 | 1.52757 |
| 0.653992 | 1.527506 |
| 0.655129 | 1.527442 |
| 0.656268 | 1.527379 |
| 0.657409 | 1.527316 |
| 0.658552 | 1.527253 |
| 0.659697 | 1.52719 |
| 0.660844 | 1.527128 |
| 0.661993 | 1.527066 |
| 0.663145 | 1.527004 |
| 0.664298 | 1.526943 |
| 0.665453 | 1.526882 |
| 0.66661 | 1.526821 |
| 0.667769 | 1.52676 |
| 0.66893 | 1.5267 |
| 0.670093 | 1.52664 |
| 0.671258 | 1.526581 |
| 0.672425 | 1.526521 |
| 0.673594 | 1.526462 |
| 0.674765 | 1.526403 |
| 0.675939 | 1.526345 |
| 0.677114 | 1.526286 |
| 0.678291 | 1.526228 |
| 0.679471 | 1.52617 |
| 0.680652 | 1.526113 |
| 0.681835 | 1.526056 |
| 0.683021 | 1.525999 |
| 0.684209 | 1.525942 |
| 0.685398 | 1.525885 |
| 0.68659 | 1.525829 |
| 0.687784 | 1.525773 |
| 0.68898 | 1.525718 |
| 0.690177 | 1.525662 |
| 0.691378 | 1.525607 |
| 0.69258 | 1.525552 |
| 0.693784 | 1.525497 |
| 0.69499 | 1.525443 |
| 0.696199 | 1.525389 |
| 0.697409 | 1.525335 |
| 0.698622 | 1.525281 |
| 0.699836 | 1.525228 |
| 0.701053 | 1.525174 |
| 0.702272 | 1.525121 |
| 0.703493 | 1.525069 |
| 0.704716 | 1.525016 |
| 0.705942 | 1.524964 |
| 0.707169 | 1.524912 |
| 0.708399 | 1.52486 |
| 0.70963 | 1.524809 |
| 0.710864 | 1.524757 |
| 0.7121 | 1.524706 |
| 0.713338 | 1.524655 |
| 0.714579 | 1.524605 |
| 0.715821 | 1.524554 |
| 0.717066 | 1.524504 |
| 0.718312 | 1.524454 |
| 0.719561 | 1.524404 |
| 0.720813 | 1.524355 |
| 0.722066 | 1.524306 |
| 0.723321 | 1.524256 |
| 0.724579 | 1.524208 |
| 0.725839 | 1.524159 |
| 0.727101 | 1.524111 |
| 0.728365 | 1.524062 |
| 0.729631 | 1.524014 |
| 0.7309 | 1.523967 |
| 0.732171 | 1.523919 |
| 0.733444 | 1.523872 |
| 0.734719 | 1.523825 |
| 0.735997 | 1.523778 |
| 0.737276 | 1.523731 |
| 0.738558 | 1.523684 |
| 0.739842 | 1.523638 |
| 0.741129 | 1.523592 |
| 0.742417 | 1.523546 |
| 0.743708 | 1.5235 |
| 0.745001 | 1.523455 |
| 0.746297 | 1.523409 |
| 0.747594 | 1.523364 |
| 0.748894 | 1.523319 |
| 0.750196 | 1.523275 |
| 0.751501 | 1.52323 |
| 0.752807 | 1.523186 |
| 0.754116 | 1.523142 |
| 0.755427 | 1.523098 |
| 0.756741 | 1.523054 |
| 0.758057 | 1.52301 |
| 0.759375 | 1.522967 |
| 0.760695 | 1.522924 |
| 0.762018 | 1.522881 |
| 0.763343 | 1.522838 |
| 0.76467 | 1.522795 |
| 0.765999 | 1.522753 |
| 0.767331 | 1.522711 |
| 0.768665 | 1.522669 |
| 0.770002 | 1.522627 |
| 0.771341 | 1.522585 |
| 0.772682 | 1.522543 |
| 0.774025 | 1.522502 |
| 0.775371 | 1.522461 |
| 0.776719 | 1.52242 |
| 0.77807 | 1.522379 |
| 0.779423 | 1.522338 |
| 0.780778 | 1.522298 |
| 0.782135 | 1.522258 |
| 0.783495 | 1.522218 |
| 0.784858 | 1.522178 |
| 0.786222 | 1.522138 |
| 0.787589 | 1.522098 |
| 0.788959 | 1.522059 |
| 0.790331 | 1.52202 |
| 0.791705 | 1.52198 |
| 0.793081 | 1.521941 |
| 0.79446 | 1.521903 |
| 0.795842 | 1.521864 |
| 0.797225 | 1.521826 |
| 0.798611 | 1.521787 |
| 0.8 | 1.521749 |
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
- —
27.2 °C. Ordinary ray (o).