B₄C (Boron carbide)

Semiconductors and photonic platforms

1 dataset, together covering 0.001738–21.54 µm. Default: Larruquert et al. 2012: n,k 0.001738–21.54 µm.

Compare datasets

Tick datasets in the list to add them to the plot (up to 12).

Datasets

Larruquert et al. 2012: n,k 0.001738–21.54 µm n,k 0.001738–21.54 µm default

Use it in Lightsmith

Load this data in Python, simulate in one more line

pip install lightsmith

import lightsmith as ls

# B4C (Boron carbide): Larruquert et al. 2012: n,k 0.001738–21.54 µm
b4c = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("main", "B4C", "Larruquert", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(b4c.range_nm)  # (1.73771, 21538.1) nm
eps = b4c.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_764e41eeda00/lightsmith"
b4c = ls.Tabulated.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))
print(b4c.source)  # citation and provenance travel with the data

Any dataset here, as the library's Tabulated material (b4c/larruquert-2012).

# ... load b4c as above, then:
sim = ls.Simulation(
    particles=[ls.Particle(shape=ls.Sphere(radius_nm=50), material=b4c)],
    medium_index=1.0,
    wavelengths=ls.WavelengthRange(start_nm=400, stop_nm=1000, 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"]).

Materials guide Open a sphere of it in Studio Quick start Ask the community

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.

About B4C (Boron carbide)

B₄C, or boron carbide, is a highly hard and lightweight ceramic material known for its diverse range of applications, from abrasives to armor plates. It has a rhombohedral crystal structure and exhibits a high melting point, making it thermally stable. In the realm of optics, boron carbide is most commonly employed as a thin-film coating material, particularly for components that require hardness, thermal stability, and resistance to wear. The material's high refractive index and low absorption in the infrared region also make it suitable for protective optics in high-energy laser systems. In addition to its mechanical strength, boron carbide has the added advantage of neutron absorption capabilities, making it useful for radiation shielding applications. However, it should be noted that the material is brittle, and this can be a limiting factor for certain applications that require mechanical flexibility. Overall, B₄C is a highly specialized material that offers a unique combination of hardness, thermal stability, and optical properties, making it valuable for both scientific research and industrial applications.

Other names: Boron carbide, Tetrabor, Tetraboron carbide

API: /v1/materials/mat_49a90bc60f8b · slug b4c