Optical constants
Refractive index of 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl)
Wu et al. 1993: n(e) 0.4–0.8 µm; 34.8 °C
- Data
- formula 6
- Range
- 0.4–0.8 µm
- Temperature
- 307.95 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
- 1.67283
- Extinction coefficient k
- 0
- Permittivity ε1
- 2.79837
- Permittivity ε2
- 0
- Absorption coefficient α
- 0 cm⁻¹
- Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
- — nm
- Abbe number Vd
- 19.666
- Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
- -0.163384 µm⁻¹
- Group index ng
- 1.76884
- Group velocity dispersion
- 403.063 fs²/mm
- Dispersion parameter D
- -2198.92 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; 34.8 °C
mat = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("other", "5CB", "Wu-34.8C-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_b5080cffa080/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-1993-34-8c-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 | 0.468 |
| C2 | 1.7205 |
| C3 | 22.6757 |
| C4 | 1.1406 |
| C5 | 12.5748 |
Comments and conditions
Conditions
- temperature
- 307.95 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 | 1.753082 |
| 0.400695 | 1.752328 |
| 0.401392 | 1.751581 |
| 0.40209 | 1.750841 |
| 0.402789 | 1.750109 |
| 0.40349 | 1.749382 |
| 0.404191 | 1.748663 |
| 0.404894 | 1.747951 |
| 0.405598 | 1.747245 |
| 0.406303 | 1.746545 |
| 0.40701 | 1.745852 |
| 0.407717 | 1.745165 |
| 0.408426 | 1.744485 |
| 0.409136 | 1.74381 |
| 0.409848 | 1.743142 |
| 0.41056 | 1.742479 |
| 0.411274 | 1.741823 |
| 0.411989 | 1.741172 |
| 0.412706 | 1.740528 |
| 0.413423 | 1.739888 |
| 0.414142 | 1.739255 |
| 0.414862 | 1.738627 |
| 0.415583 | 1.738004 |
| 0.416306 | 1.737387 |
| 0.41703 | 1.736775 |
| 0.417755 | 1.736169 |
| 0.418481 | 1.735567 |
| 0.419209 | 1.734971 |
| 0.419938 | 1.73438 |
| 0.420668 | 1.733794 |
| 0.421399 | 1.733212 |
| 0.422132 | 1.732636 |
| 0.422866 | 1.732065 |
| 0.423601 | 1.731498 |
| 0.424338 | 1.730936 |
| 0.425076 | 1.730378 |
| 0.425815 | 1.729826 |
| 0.426555 | 1.729277 |
| 0.427297 | 1.728734 |
| 0.42804 | 1.728194 |
| 0.428784 | 1.727659 |
| 0.429529 | 1.727129 |
| 0.430276 | 1.726603 |
| 0.431024 | 1.72608 |
| 0.431774 | 1.725563 |
| 0.432525 | 1.725049 |
| 0.433277 | 1.724539 |
| 0.43403 | 1.724034 |
| 0.434785 | 1.723532 |
| 0.435541 | 1.723034 |
| 0.436298 | 1.72254 |
| 0.437056 | 1.722051 |
| 0.437816 | 1.721564 |
| 0.438578 | 1.721082 |
| 0.43934 | 1.720604 |
| 0.440104 | 1.720129 |
| 0.440869 | 1.719657 |
| 0.441636 | 1.71919 |
| 0.442404 | 1.718726 |
| 0.443173 | 1.718265 |
| 0.443943 | 1.717808 |
| 0.444715 | 1.717355 |
| 0.445489 | 1.716905 |
| 0.446263 | 1.716458 |
| 0.447039 | 1.716014 |
| 0.447816 | 1.715574 |
| 0.448595 | 1.715137 |
| 0.449375 | 1.714704 |
| 0.450156 | 1.714274 |
| 0.450939 | 1.713846 |
| 0.451723 | 1.713422 |
| 0.452508 | 1.713001 |
| 0.453295 | 1.712584 |
| 0.454083 | 1.712169 |
| 0.454873 | 1.711757 |
| 0.455664 | 1.711348 |
| 0.456456 | 1.710942 |
| 0.45725 | 1.710539 |
| 0.458045 | 1.710139 |
| 0.458841 | 1.709742 |
| 0.459639 | 1.709348 |
| 0.460438 | 1.708956 |
| 0.461239 | 1.708567 |
| 0.462041 | 1.708181 |
| 0.462844 | 1.707798 |
| 0.463649 | 1.707417 |
| 0.464455 | 1.707039 |
| 0.465263 | 1.706664 |
| 0.466072 | 1.706291 |
| 0.466882 | 1.705921 |
| 0.467694 | 1.705554 |
| 0.468507 | 1.705189 |
| 0.469321 | 1.704826 |
| 0.470137 | 1.704466 |
| 0.470955 | 1.704109 |
| 0.471774 | 1.703754 |
| 0.472594 | 1.703401 |
| 0.473416 | 1.703051 |
| 0.474239 | 1.702703 |
| 0.475063 | 1.702358 |
| 0.475889 | 1.702015 |
| 0.476717 | 1.701674 |
| 0.477546 | 1.701335 |
| 0.478376 | 1.700999 |
| 0.479208 | 1.700665 |
| 0.480041 | 1.700333 |
| 0.480876 | 1.700003 |
| 0.481712 | 1.699676 |
| 0.482549 | 1.699351 |
| 0.483388 | 1.699027 |
| 0.484229 | 1.698706 |
| 0.485071 | 1.698387 |
| 0.485914 | 1.698071 |
| 0.486759 | 1.697756 |
| 0.487605 | 1.697443 |
| 0.488453 | 1.697133 |
| 0.489303 | 1.696824 |
| 0.490153 | 1.696517 |
| 0.491006 | 1.696213 |
| 0.491859 | 1.69591 |
| 0.492714 | 1.695609 |
| 0.493571 | 1.69531 |
| 0.494429 | 1.695013 |
| 0.495289 | 1.694718 |
| 0.49615 | 1.694425 |
| 0.497013 | 1.694134 |
| 0.497877 | 1.693844 |
| 0.498743 | 1.693556 |
| 0.49961 | 1.693271 |
| 0.500479 | 1.692987 |
| 0.501349 | 1.692704 |
| 0.50222 | 1.692424 |
| 0.503094 | 1.692145 |
| 0.503968 | 1.691868 |
| 0.504845 | 1.691593 |
| 0.505722 | 1.691319 |
| 0.506602 | 1.691047 |
| 0.507483 | 1.690777 |
| 0.508365 | 1.690508 |
| 0.509249 | 1.690241 |
| 0.510134 | 1.689976 |
| 0.511021 | 1.689712 |
| 0.51191 | 1.68945 |
| 0.5128 | 1.68919 |
| 0.513692 | 1.688931 |
| 0.514585 | 1.688674 |
| 0.515479 | 1.688418 |
| 0.516376 | 1.688164 |
| 0.517274 | 1.687911 |
| 0.518173 | 1.68766 |
| 0.519074 | 1.68741 |
| 0.519976 | 1.687162 |
| 0.52088 | 1.686915 |
| 0.521786 | 1.68667 |
| 0.522693 | 1.686426 |
| 0.523602 | 1.686184 |
| 0.524513 | 1.685943 |
| 0.525425 | 1.685704 |
| 0.526338 | 1.685466 |
| 0.527253 | 1.685229 |
| 0.52817 | 1.684994 |
| 0.529088 | 1.68476 |
| 0.530008 | 1.684527 |
| 0.53093 | 1.684296 |
| 0.531853 | 1.684067 |
| 0.532778 | 1.683838 |
| 0.533704 | 1.683611 |
| 0.534632 | 1.683385 |
| 0.535562 | 1.683161 |
| 0.536493 | 1.682937 |
| 0.537426 | 1.682715 |
| 0.53836 | 1.682495 |
| 0.539296 | 1.682275 |
| 0.540234 | 1.682057 |
| 0.541173 | 1.68184 |
| 0.542114 | 1.681625 |
| 0.543057 | 1.68141 |
| 0.544001 | 1.681197 |
| 0.544947 | 1.680985 |
| 0.545894 | 1.680774 |
| 0.546843 | 1.680565 |
| 0.547794 | 1.680356 |
| 0.548747 | 1.680149 |
| 0.549701 | 1.679943 |
| 0.550657 | 1.679738 |
| 0.551614 | 1.679534 |
| 0.552573 | 1.679331 |
| 0.553534 | 1.67913 |
| 0.554496 | 1.678929 |
| 0.55546 | 1.67873 |
| 0.556426 | 1.678532 |
| 0.557394 | 1.678335 |
| 0.558363 | 1.678139 |
| 0.559334 | 1.677944 |
| 0.560306 | 1.67775 |
| 0.56128 | 1.677557 |
| 0.562256 | 1.677366 |
| 0.563234 | 1.677175 |
| 0.564213 | 1.676985 |
| 0.565194 | 1.676797 |
| 0.566177 | 1.676609 |
| 0.567161 | 1.676423 |
| 0.568148 | 1.676237 |
| 0.569135 | 1.676053 |
| 0.570125 | 1.675869 |
| 0.571116 | 1.675687 |
| 0.572109 | 1.675505 |
| 0.573104 | 1.675325 |
| 0.5741 | 1.675145 |
| 0.575099 | 1.674966 |
| 0.576099 | 1.674789 |
| 0.5771 | 1.674612 |
| 0.578104 | 1.674436 |
| 0.579109 | 1.674261 |
| 0.580116 | 1.674087 |
| 0.581124 | 1.673915 |
| 0.582135 | 1.673742 |
| 0.583147 | 1.673571 |
| 0.584161 | 1.673401 |
| 0.585177 | 1.673232 |
| 0.586194 | 1.673063 |
| 0.587213 | 1.672896 |
| 0.588234 | 1.672729 |
| 0.589257 | 1.672563 |
| 0.590282 | 1.672398 |
| 0.591308 | 1.672234 |
| 0.592336 | 1.672071 |
| 0.593366 | 1.671909 |
| 0.594398 | 1.671747 |
| 0.595431 | 1.671587 |
| 0.596466 | 1.671427 |
| 0.597504 | 1.671268 |
| 0.598542 | 1.67111 |
| 0.599583 | 1.670952 |
| 0.600626 | 1.670796 |
| 0.60167 | 1.67064 |
| 0.602716 | 1.670485 |
| 0.603764 | 1.670331 |
| 0.604814 | 1.670177 |
| 0.605865 | 1.670025 |
| 0.606919 | 1.669873 |
| 0.607974 | 1.669722 |
| 0.609031 | 1.669572 |
| 0.61009 | 1.669422 |
| 0.611151 | 1.669274 |
| 0.612214 | 1.669126 |
| 0.613278 | 1.668979 |
| 0.614344 | 1.668832 |
| 0.615413 | 1.668686 |
| 0.616483 | 1.668541 |
| 0.617554 | 1.668397 |
| 0.618628 | 1.668254 |
| 0.619704 | 1.668111 |
| 0.620781 | 1.667969 |
| 0.621861 | 1.667827 |
| 0.622942 | 1.667687 |
| 0.624025 | 1.667547 |
| 0.62511 | 1.667408 |
| 0.626197 | 1.667269 |
| 0.627286 | 1.667131 |
| 0.628376 | 1.666994 |
| 0.629469 | 1.666857 |
| 0.630563 | 1.666722 |
| 0.63166 | 1.666587 |
| 0.632758 | 1.666452 |
| 0.633858 | 1.666318 |
| 0.63496 | 1.666185 |
| 0.636064 | 1.666053 |
| 0.63717 | 1.665921 |
| 0.638278 | 1.66579 |
| 0.639388 | 1.665659 |
| 0.6405 | 1.665529 |
| 0.641613 | 1.6654 |
| 0.642729 | 1.665271 |
| 0.643847 | 1.665143 |
| 0.644966 | 1.665016 |
| 0.646087 | 1.664889 |
| 0.647211 | 1.664763 |
| 0.648336 | 1.664637 |
| 0.649463 | 1.664513 |
| 0.650593 | 1.664388 |
| 0.651724 | 1.664265 |
| 0.652857 | 1.664141 |
| 0.653992 | 1.664019 |
| 0.655129 | 1.663897 |
| 0.656268 | 1.663776 |
| 0.657409 | 1.663655 |
| 0.658552 | 1.663535 |
| 0.659697 | 1.663415 |
| 0.660844 | 1.663296 |
| 0.661993 | 1.663178 |
| 0.663145 | 1.66306 |
| 0.664298 | 1.662943 |
| 0.665453 | 1.662826 |
| 0.66661 | 1.66271 |
| 0.667769 | 1.662594 |
| 0.66893 | 1.662479 |
| 0.670093 | 1.662364 |
| 0.671258 | 1.66225 |
| 0.672425 | 1.662137 |
| 0.673594 | 1.662024 |
| 0.674765 | 1.661912 |
| 0.675939 | 1.6618 |
| 0.677114 | 1.661689 |
| 0.678291 | 1.661578 |
| 0.679471 | 1.661468 |
| 0.680652 | 1.661358 |
| 0.681835 | 1.661249 |
| 0.683021 | 1.66114 |
| 0.684209 | 1.661032 |
| 0.685398 | 1.660924 |
| 0.68659 | 1.660817 |
| 0.687784 | 1.66071 |
| 0.68898 | 1.660604 |
| 0.690177 | 1.660498 |
| 0.691378 | 1.660393 |
| 0.69258 | 1.660288 |
| 0.693784 | 1.660184 |
| 0.69499 | 1.66008 |
| 0.696199 | 1.659977 |
| 0.697409 | 1.659874 |
| 0.698622 | 1.659772 |
| 0.699836 | 1.65967 |
| 0.701053 | 1.659569 |
| 0.702272 | 1.659468 |
| 0.703493 | 1.659367 |
| 0.704716 | 1.659267 |
| 0.705942 | 1.659168 |
| 0.707169 | 1.659069 |
| 0.708399 | 1.65897 |
| 0.70963 | 1.658872 |
| 0.710864 | 1.658774 |
| 0.7121 | 1.658677 |
| 0.713338 | 1.65858 |
| 0.714579 | 1.658484 |
| 0.715821 | 1.658388 |
| 0.717066 | 1.658293 |
| 0.718312 | 1.658198 |
| 0.719561 | 1.658103 |
| 0.720813 | 1.658009 |
| 0.722066 | 1.657915 |
| 0.723321 | 1.657822 |
| 0.724579 | 1.657729 |
| 0.725839 | 1.657636 |
| 0.727101 | 1.657544 |
| 0.728365 | 1.657453 |
| 0.729631 | 1.657361 |
| 0.7309 | 1.657271 |
| 0.732171 | 1.65718 |
| 0.733444 | 1.65709 |
| 0.734719 | 1.657001 |
| 0.735997 | 1.656911 |
| 0.737276 | 1.656823 |
| 0.738558 | 1.656734 |
| 0.739842 | 1.656646 |
| 0.741129 | 1.656559 |
| 0.742417 | 1.656471 |
| 0.743708 | 1.656385 |
| 0.745001 | 1.656298 |
| 0.746297 | 1.656212 |
| 0.747594 | 1.656126 |
| 0.748894 | 1.656041 |
| 0.750196 | 1.655956 |
| 0.751501 | 1.655872 |
| 0.752807 | 1.655788 |
| 0.754116 | 1.655704 |
| 0.755427 | 1.65562 |
| 0.756741 | 1.655537 |
| 0.758057 | 1.655455 |
| 0.759375 | 1.655372 |
| 0.760695 | 1.65529 |
| 0.762018 | 1.655209 |
| 0.763343 | 1.655128 |
| 0.76467 | 1.655047 |
| 0.765999 | 1.654966 |
| 0.767331 | 1.654886 |
| 0.768665 | 1.654806 |
| 0.770002 | 1.654727 |
| 0.771341 | 1.654648 |
| 0.772682 | 1.654569 |
| 0.774025 | 1.654491 |
| 0.775371 | 1.654413 |
| 0.776719 | 1.654335 |
| 0.77807 | 1.654258 |
| 0.779423 | 1.654181 |
| 0.780778 | 1.654104 |
| 0.782135 | 1.654027 |
| 0.783495 | 1.653951 |
| 0.784858 | 1.653876 |
| 0.786222 | 1.6538 |
| 0.787589 | 1.653725 |
| 0.788959 | 1.653651 |
| 0.790331 | 1.653576 |
| 0.791705 | 1.653502 |
| 0.793081 | 1.653428 |
| 0.79446 | 1.653355 |
| 0.795842 | 1.653282 |
| 0.797225 | 1.653209 |
| 0.798611 | 1.653137 |
| 0.8 | 1.653064 |
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
- —
34.8 °C. Extraordinary ray (e).