Optical constants
Refractive index of 5CB (4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl)
Wu et al. 1993: n(o) 0.4–0.8 µm; 34.8 °C
- Data
- formula 6
- Range
- 0.4–0.8 µm
- Temperature
- 307.95 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
- 1.55036
- Extinction coefficient k
- 0
- Permittivity ε1
- 2.40361
- Permittivity ε2
- 0
- Absorption coefficient α
- 0 cm⁻¹
- Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
- — nm
- Abbe number Vd
- 26.959
- Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
- -0.0980122 µm⁻¹
- Group index ng
- 1.60795
- Group velocity dispersion
- 237.787 fs²/mm
- Dispersion parameter D
- -1297.26 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; 34.8 °C
mat = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("other", "5CB", "Wu-34.8C-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_04e4bb28a9cd/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-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 | 0.4165 |
| C2 | 1.4574 |
| C3 | 22.6757 |
| C4 | 0.5824 |
| C5 | 12.5748 |
Comments and conditions
Conditions
- temperature
- 307.95 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 | 1.597309 |
| 0.400695 | 1.596877 |
| 0.401392 | 1.59645 |
| 0.40209 | 1.596026 |
| 0.402789 | 1.595606 |
| 0.40349 | 1.59519 |
| 0.404191 | 1.594778 |
| 0.404894 | 1.594369 |
| 0.405598 | 1.593964 |
| 0.406303 | 1.593563 |
| 0.40701 | 1.593165 |
| 0.407717 | 1.592771 |
| 0.408426 | 1.59238 |
| 0.409136 | 1.591992 |
| 0.409848 | 1.591608 |
| 0.41056 | 1.591227 |
| 0.411274 | 1.590849 |
| 0.411989 | 1.590475 |
| 0.412706 | 1.590104 |
| 0.413423 | 1.589736 |
| 0.414142 | 1.589371 |
| 0.414862 | 1.589009 |
| 0.415583 | 1.58865 |
| 0.416306 | 1.588294 |
| 0.41703 | 1.587941 |
| 0.417755 | 1.587591 |
| 0.418481 | 1.587244 |
| 0.419209 | 1.5869 |
| 0.419938 | 1.586558 |
| 0.420668 | 1.58622 |
| 0.421399 | 1.585884 |
| 0.422132 | 1.585551 |
| 0.422866 | 1.58522 |
| 0.423601 | 1.584892 |
| 0.424338 | 1.584567 |
| 0.425076 | 1.584245 |
| 0.425815 | 1.583925 |
| 0.426555 | 1.583607 |
| 0.427297 | 1.583292 |
| 0.42804 | 1.58298 |
| 0.428784 | 1.58267 |
| 0.429529 | 1.582362 |
| 0.430276 | 1.582057 |
| 0.431024 | 1.581754 |
| 0.431774 | 1.581453 |
| 0.432525 | 1.581155 |
| 0.433277 | 1.580859 |
| 0.43403 | 1.580565 |
| 0.434785 | 1.580274 |
| 0.435541 | 1.579985 |
| 0.436298 | 1.579698 |
| 0.437056 | 1.579413 |
| 0.437816 | 1.57913 |
| 0.438578 | 1.57885 |
| 0.43934 | 1.578571 |
| 0.440104 | 1.578295 |
| 0.440869 | 1.57802 |
| 0.441636 | 1.577748 |
| 0.442404 | 1.577478 |
| 0.443173 | 1.577209 |
| 0.443943 | 1.576943 |
| 0.444715 | 1.576678 |
| 0.445489 | 1.576416 |
| 0.446263 | 1.576155 |
| 0.447039 | 1.575897 |
| 0.447816 | 1.57564 |
| 0.448595 | 1.575385 |
| 0.449375 | 1.575132 |
| 0.450156 | 1.57488 |
| 0.450939 | 1.574631 |
| 0.451723 | 1.574383 |
| 0.452508 | 1.574137 |
| 0.453295 | 1.573892 |
| 0.454083 | 1.57365 |
| 0.454873 | 1.573409 |
| 0.455664 | 1.57317 |
| 0.456456 | 1.572932 |
| 0.45725 | 1.572696 |
| 0.458045 | 1.572462 |
| 0.458841 | 1.572229 |
| 0.459639 | 1.571998 |
| 0.460438 | 1.571769 |
| 0.461239 | 1.571541 |
| 0.462041 | 1.571315 |
| 0.462844 | 1.57109 |
| 0.463649 | 1.570867 |
| 0.464455 | 1.570645 |
| 0.465263 | 1.570425 |
| 0.466072 | 1.570206 |
| 0.466882 | 1.569989 |
| 0.467694 | 1.569773 |
| 0.468507 | 1.569559 |
| 0.469321 | 1.569346 |
| 0.470137 | 1.569134 |
| 0.470955 | 1.568924 |
| 0.471774 | 1.568716 |
| 0.472594 | 1.568508 |
| 0.473416 | 1.568302 |
| 0.474239 | 1.568098 |
| 0.475063 | 1.567895 |
| 0.475889 | 1.567693 |
| 0.476717 | 1.567492 |
| 0.477546 | 1.567293 |
| 0.478376 | 1.567095 |
| 0.479208 | 1.566898 |
| 0.480041 | 1.566703 |
| 0.480876 | 1.566508 |
| 0.481712 | 1.566315 |
| 0.482549 | 1.566124 |
| 0.483388 | 1.565933 |
| 0.484229 | 1.565744 |
| 0.485071 | 1.565556 |
| 0.485914 | 1.565369 |
| 0.486759 | 1.565183 |
| 0.487605 | 1.564999 |
| 0.488453 | 1.564815 |
| 0.489303 | 1.564633 |
| 0.490153 | 1.564452 |
| 0.491006 | 1.564272 |
| 0.491859 | 1.564093 |
| 0.492714 | 1.563916 |
| 0.493571 | 1.563739 |
| 0.494429 | 1.563563 |
| 0.495289 | 1.563389 |
| 0.49615 | 1.563216 |
| 0.497013 | 1.563043 |
| 0.497877 | 1.562872 |
| 0.498743 | 1.562702 |
| 0.49961 | 1.562533 |
| 0.500479 | 1.562365 |
| 0.501349 | 1.562198 |
| 0.50222 | 1.562032 |
| 0.503094 | 1.561867 |
| 0.503968 | 1.561702 |
| 0.504845 | 1.561539 |
| 0.505722 | 1.561377 |
| 0.506602 | 1.561216 |
| 0.507483 | 1.561056 |
| 0.508365 | 1.560897 |
| 0.509249 | 1.560739 |
| 0.510134 | 1.560581 |
| 0.511021 | 1.560425 |
| 0.51191 | 1.560269 |
| 0.5128 | 1.560115 |
| 0.513692 | 1.559961 |
| 0.514585 | 1.559809 |
| 0.515479 | 1.559657 |
| 0.516376 | 1.559506 |
| 0.517274 | 1.559356 |
| 0.518173 | 1.559207 |
| 0.519074 | 1.559058 |
| 0.519976 | 1.558911 |
| 0.52088 | 1.558764 |
| 0.521786 | 1.558619 |
| 0.522693 | 1.558474 |
| 0.523602 | 1.55833 |
| 0.524513 | 1.558187 |
| 0.525425 | 1.558044 |
| 0.526338 | 1.557903 |
| 0.527253 | 1.557762 |
| 0.52817 | 1.557622 |
| 0.529088 | 1.557483 |
| 0.530008 | 1.557344 |
| 0.53093 | 1.557207 |
| 0.531853 | 1.55707 |
| 0.532778 | 1.556934 |
| 0.533704 | 1.556799 |
| 0.534632 | 1.556664 |
| 0.535562 | 1.556531 |
| 0.536493 | 1.556398 |
| 0.537426 | 1.556265 |
| 0.53836 | 1.556134 |
| 0.539296 | 1.556003 |
| 0.540234 | 1.555873 |
| 0.541173 | 1.555744 |
| 0.542114 | 1.555615 |
| 0.543057 | 1.555487 |
| 0.544001 | 1.55536 |
| 0.544947 | 1.555234 |
| 0.545894 | 1.555108 |
| 0.546843 | 1.554983 |
| 0.547794 | 1.554859 |
| 0.548747 | 1.554735 |
| 0.549701 | 1.554612 |
| 0.550657 | 1.554489 |
| 0.551614 | 1.554368 |
| 0.552573 | 1.554247 |
| 0.553534 | 1.554126 |
| 0.554496 | 1.554007 |
| 0.55546 | 1.553888 |
| 0.556426 | 1.553769 |
| 0.557394 | 1.553651 |
| 0.558363 | 1.553534 |
| 0.559334 | 1.553418 |
| 0.560306 | 1.553302 |
| 0.56128 | 1.553187 |
| 0.562256 | 1.553072 |
| 0.563234 | 1.552958 |
| 0.564213 | 1.552845 |
| 0.565194 | 1.552732 |
| 0.566177 | 1.55262 |
| 0.567161 | 1.552508 |
| 0.568148 | 1.552397 |
| 0.569135 | 1.552286 |
| 0.570125 | 1.552177 |
| 0.571116 | 1.552067 |
| 0.572109 | 1.551959 |
| 0.573104 | 1.551851 |
| 0.5741 | 1.551743 |
| 0.575099 | 1.551636 |
| 0.576099 | 1.55153 |
| 0.5771 | 1.551424 |
| 0.578104 | 1.551318 |
| 0.579109 | 1.551214 |
| 0.580116 | 1.551109 |
| 0.581124 | 1.551006 |
| 0.582135 | 1.550903 |
| 0.583147 | 1.5508 |
| 0.584161 | 1.550698 |
| 0.585177 | 1.550596 |
| 0.586194 | 1.550495 |
| 0.587213 | 1.550395 |
| 0.588234 | 1.550295 |
| 0.589257 | 1.550195 |
| 0.590282 | 1.550096 |
| 0.591308 | 1.549998 |
| 0.592336 | 1.5499 |
| 0.593366 | 1.549803 |
| 0.594398 | 1.549706 |
| 0.595431 | 1.549609 |
| 0.596466 | 1.549513 |
| 0.597504 | 1.549418 |
| 0.598542 | 1.549323 |
| 0.599583 | 1.549228 |
| 0.600626 | 1.549134 |
| 0.60167 | 1.549041 |
| 0.602716 | 1.548947 |
| 0.603764 | 1.548855 |
| 0.604814 | 1.548763 |
| 0.605865 | 1.548671 |
| 0.606919 | 1.54858 |
| 0.607974 | 1.548489 |
| 0.609031 | 1.548399 |
| 0.61009 | 1.548309 |
| 0.611151 | 1.548219 |
| 0.612214 | 1.54813 |
| 0.613278 | 1.548042 |
| 0.614344 | 1.547954 |
| 0.615413 | 1.547866 |
| 0.616483 | 1.547779 |
| 0.617554 | 1.547692 |
| 0.618628 | 1.547606 |
| 0.619704 | 1.54752 |
| 0.620781 | 1.547434 |
| 0.621861 | 1.547349 |
| 0.622942 | 1.547264 |
| 0.624025 | 1.54718 |
| 0.62511 | 1.547096 |
| 0.626197 | 1.547013 |
| 0.627286 | 1.54693 |
| 0.628376 | 1.546847 |
| 0.629469 | 1.546765 |
| 0.630563 | 1.546683 |
| 0.63166 | 1.546602 |
| 0.632758 | 1.546521 |
| 0.633858 | 1.54644 |
| 0.63496 | 1.54636 |
| 0.636064 | 1.54628 |
| 0.63717 | 1.546201 |
| 0.638278 | 1.546121 |
| 0.639388 | 1.546043 |
| 0.6405 | 1.545964 |
| 0.641613 | 1.545886 |
| 0.642729 | 1.545809 |
| 0.643847 | 1.545732 |
| 0.644966 | 1.545655 |
| 0.646087 | 1.545578 |
| 0.647211 | 1.545502 |
| 0.648336 | 1.545427 |
| 0.649463 | 1.545351 |
| 0.650593 | 1.545276 |
| 0.651724 | 1.545202 |
| 0.652857 | 1.545127 |
| 0.653992 | 1.545053 |
| 0.655129 | 1.54498 |
| 0.656268 | 1.544906 |
| 0.657409 | 1.544834 |
| 0.658552 | 1.544761 |
| 0.659697 | 1.544689 |
| 0.660844 | 1.544617 |
| 0.661993 | 1.544545 |
| 0.663145 | 1.544474 |
| 0.664298 | 1.544403 |
| 0.665453 | 1.544333 |
| 0.66661 | 1.544263 |
| 0.667769 | 1.544193 |
| 0.66893 | 1.544123 |
| 0.670093 | 1.544054 |
| 0.671258 | 1.543985 |
| 0.672425 | 1.543917 |
| 0.673594 | 1.543848 |
| 0.674765 | 1.54378 |
| 0.675939 | 1.543713 |
| 0.677114 | 1.543645 |
| 0.678291 | 1.543578 |
| 0.679471 | 1.543512 |
| 0.680652 | 1.543445 |
| 0.681835 | 1.543379 |
| 0.683021 | 1.543314 |
| 0.684209 | 1.543248 |
| 0.685398 | 1.543183 |
| 0.68659 | 1.543118 |
| 0.687784 | 1.543053 |
| 0.68898 | 1.542989 |
| 0.690177 | 1.542925 |
| 0.691378 | 1.542862 |
| 0.69258 | 1.542798 |
| 0.693784 | 1.542735 |
| 0.69499 | 1.542672 |
| 0.696199 | 1.54261 |
| 0.697409 | 1.542548 |
| 0.698622 | 1.542486 |
| 0.699836 | 1.542424 |
| 0.701053 | 1.542363 |
| 0.702272 | 1.542301 |
| 0.703493 | 1.542241 |
| 0.704716 | 1.54218 |
| 0.705942 | 1.54212 |
| 0.707169 | 1.54206 |
| 0.708399 | 1.542 |
| 0.70963 | 1.541941 |
| 0.710864 | 1.541881 |
| 0.7121 | 1.541823 |
| 0.713338 | 1.541764 |
| 0.714579 | 1.541705 |
| 0.715821 | 1.541647 |
| 0.717066 | 1.541589 |
| 0.718312 | 1.541532 |
| 0.719561 | 1.541474 |
| 0.720813 | 1.541417 |
| 0.722066 | 1.541361 |
| 0.723321 | 1.541304 |
| 0.724579 | 1.541248 |
| 0.725839 | 1.541192 |
| 0.727101 | 1.541136 |
| 0.728365 | 1.54108 |
| 0.729631 | 1.541025 |
| 0.7309 | 1.54097 |
| 0.732171 | 1.540915 |
| 0.733444 | 1.54086 |
| 0.734719 | 1.540806 |
| 0.735997 | 1.540752 |
| 0.737276 | 1.540698 |
| 0.738558 | 1.540644 |
| 0.739842 | 1.540591 |
| 0.741129 | 1.540538 |
| 0.742417 | 1.540485 |
| 0.743708 | 1.540432 |
| 0.745001 | 1.54038 |
| 0.746297 | 1.540327 |
| 0.747594 | 1.540275 |
| 0.748894 | 1.540224 |
| 0.750196 | 1.540172 |
| 0.751501 | 1.540121 |
| 0.752807 | 1.54007 |
| 0.754116 | 1.540019 |
| 0.755427 | 1.539968 |
| 0.756741 | 1.539918 |
| 0.758057 | 1.539867 |
| 0.759375 | 1.539817 |
| 0.760695 | 1.539768 |
| 0.762018 | 1.539718 |
| 0.763343 | 1.539669 |
| 0.76467 | 1.53962 |
| 0.765999 | 1.539571 |
| 0.767331 | 1.539522 |
| 0.768665 | 1.539474 |
| 0.770002 | 1.539425 |
| 0.771341 | 1.539377 |
| 0.772682 | 1.539329 |
| 0.774025 | 1.539282 |
| 0.775371 | 1.539234 |
| 0.776719 | 1.539187 |
| 0.77807 | 1.53914 |
| 0.779423 | 1.539093 |
| 0.780778 | 1.539046 |
| 0.782135 | 1.539 |
| 0.783495 | 1.538954 |
| 0.784858 | 1.538908 |
| 0.786222 | 1.538862 |
| 0.787589 | 1.538816 |
| 0.788959 | 1.538771 |
| 0.790331 | 1.538726 |
| 0.791705 | 1.538681 |
| 0.793081 | 1.538636 |
| 0.79446 | 1.538591 |
| 0.795842 | 1.538547 |
| 0.797225 | 1.538502 |
| 0.798611 | 1.538458 |
| 0.8 | 1.538414 |
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. Ordinary ray (o).