Optical constants

Refractive index of BN (Boron nitride)

Choi et al. 2026: h-BN; n,k(o) 0.190–1.00 µm

Data
tabulated nk
Range
0.19–1 µm
Points
811
Optical axis
o
Licence
CC0-1.0

Uniaxial crystal, axes: oe

Plot

Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.

At one wavelength

Range 0.19–1 µm
Refractive index n
2.05035
Extinction coefficient k
0.005024
Permittivity ε1
4.2039
Permittivity ε2
0.0206019
Absorption coefficient α
1074.43 cm⁻¹
Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
18614.5 nm
Abbe number Vd
—
Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
-0.17 µm⁻¹
Group index ng
2.15024
Group velocity dispersion
— fs²/mm
Dispersion parameter D
— 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

# BN (Boron nitride): Choi et al. 2026: h-BN; n,k(o) 0.190–1.00 µm
bn = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("main", "BN", "Choi-o", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(bn.range_nm)  # (190, 1000) nm
eps = bn.eps([633])  # complex permittivity

Downloads the original record once (pinned to the imported snapshot) and caches it.

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.

Comments and conditions

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Ordinary ray (o).

Conditions

direction
o

References

B. Choi, J. Lynch, W. Chen, S.-J. Jeon, H. Cho, K. Yang, J. Kim, N. Engheta, D. Jariwala. Natural hyperbolicity of hexagonal boron nitride in the deep ultraviolet. Nat. Commun., 17, 2869 (2026) (Numerical data kindly provided by Bongjun Choi)

Cite

Bongjun Choi et al.. Natural hyperbolicity of hexagonal boron nitride in the deep ultraviolet. Nature Communications, 17, 2869 (2026), doi:10.1038/s41467-026-69536-4; Data from the refractiveindex.info database (M. N. Polyanskiy, Sci. Data 11, 94 (2024), doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02898-2)

Data

811 rows as published
BN (Boron nitride), Choi et al. 2026: h-BN; n,k(o) 0.190–1.00 µm: n and k versus wavelength
λ (µm)nk
0.190.686561.89916
0.1910.63982.10876
0.1920.623442.33851
0.1930.635522.58943
0.1940.677412.8663
0.1950.755153.17692
0.1960.881983.53209
0.1971.083843.9453
0.1981.411444.42899
0.1991.964644.97513
0.22.920585.47314
0.2014.39795.48845
0.2025.773224.4482
0.2036.130822.98386
0.2045.83951.94833
0.2055.422871.3385
0.2065.04540.97465
0.2074.731440.74498
0.2084.473540.59156
0.2094.260170.48399
0.214.081460.40551
0.2113.929820.34635
0.2123.799580.30052
0.2133.686490.2642
0.2143.587310.23486
0.2153.499590.21076
0.2163.42140.19069
0.2173.351230.17375
0.2183.287870.15931
0.2193.230350.14688
0.223.177860.13609
0.2213.129770.12664
0.2223.085520.11831
0.2233.044650.11093
0.2243.006780.10434
0.2252.971590.09844
0.2262.938780.09312
0.2272.908110.08831
0.2282.879390.08394
0.2292.852420.07995
0.232.827040.0763
0.2312.803110.07296
0.2322.780510.06987
0.2332.759120.06703
0.2342.738860.06439
0.2352.719620.06195
0.2362.701340.05968
0.2372.683940.05756
0.2382.667360.05558
0.2392.651540.05372
0.242.636420.05199
0.2412.621970.05035
0.2422.608130.04882
0.2432.594870.04737
0.2442.582150.046
0.2452.569940.04471
0.2462.558210.04349
0.2472.546930.04233
0.2482.536070.04124
0.2492.525620.04019
0.252.515540.0392
0.2512.505820.03825
0.2522.496440.03735
0.2532.487370.03649
0.2542.478620.03567
0.2552.470150.03489
0.2562.461960.03414
0.2572.454030.03342
0.2582.446350.03273
0.2592.438910.03207
0.262.431690.03144
0.2612.424690.03083
0.2622.41790.03025
0.2632.411310.02968
0.2642.40490.02914
0.2652.398680.02862
0.2662.392620.02812
0.2672.386740.02763
0.2682.381010.02716
0.2692.375440.02671
0.272.370020.02627
0.2712.364730.02585
0.2722.359580.02544
0.2732.354570.02505
0.2742.349670.02467
0.2752.34490.0243
0.2762.340250.02394
0.2772.335710.02359
0.2782.331280.02325
0.2792.326950.02292
0.282.322720.02261
0.2812.318590.0223
0.2822.314550.022
0.2832.310610.02171
0.2842.306750.02142
0.2852.302980.02115
0.2862.299290.02088
0.2872.295680.02062
0.2882.292150.02036
0.2892.288690.02012
0.292.28530.01988
0.2912.281990.01964
0.2922.278740.01941
0.2932.275560.01919
0.2942.272440.01897
0.2952.269390.01876
0.2962.266390.01855
0.2972.263450.01835
0.2982.260570.01815
0.2992.257750.01796
0.32.254980.01777
0.3012.252260.01758
0.3022.249590.0174
0.3032.246980.01722
0.3042.244410.01705
0.3052.241880.01688
0.3062.23940.01672
0.3072.236970.01656
0.3082.234580.0164
0.3092.232230.01624
0.312.229920.01609
0.3112.227660.01594
0.3122.225430.01579
0.3132.223240.01565
0.3142.221080.01551
0.3152.218970.01537
0.3162.216890.01524
0.3172.214840.01511
0.3182.212820.01498
0.3192.210840.01485
0.322.208890.01472
0.3212.206970.0146
0.3222.205090.01448
0.3232.203230.01436
0.3242.20140.01425
0.3252.19960.01413
0.3262.197830.01402
0.3272.196080.01391
0.3282.194360.0138
0.3292.192670.0137
0.332.1910.01359
0.3312.189360.01349
0.3322.187740.01339
0.3332.186150.01329
0.3342.184580.01319
0.3352.183030.01309
0.3362.18150.013
0.3372.180.01291
0.3382.178520.01281
0.3392.177050.01272
0.342.175610.01263
0.3412.174190.01255
0.3422.172790.01246
0.3432.171410.01238
0.3442.170050.01229
0.3452.16870.01221
0.3462.167380.01213
0.3472.166070.01205
0.3482.164780.01197
0.3492.163510.01189
0.352.162250.01182
0.3512.161010.01174
0.3522.159780.01167
0.3532.158580.01159
0.3542.157380.01152
0.3552.156210.01145
0.3562.155050.01138
0.3572.15390.01131
0.3582.152770.01124
0.3592.151650.01118
0.362.150540.01111
0.3612.149450.01104
0.3622.148380.01098
0.3632.147310.01091
0.3642.146260.01085
0.3652.145220.01079
0.3662.14420.01073
0.3672.143180.01067
0.3682.142180.01061
0.3692.141190.01055
0.372.140220.01049
0.3712.139250.01043
0.3722.13830.01037
0.3732.137350.01032
0.3742.136420.01026
0.3752.13550.01021
0.3762.134590.01015
0.3772.133690.0101
0.3782.13280.01005
0.3792.131920.00999
0.382.131050.00994
0.3812.130190.00989
0.3822.129340.00984
0.3832.12850.00979
0.3842.127660.00974
0.3852.126840.00969
0.3862.126030.00964
0.3872.125220.0096
0.3882.124430.00955
0.3892.123640.0095
0.392.122860.00946
0.3912.122090.00941
0.3922.121320.00936
0.3932.120570.00932
0.3942.119820.00927
0.3952.119090.00923
0.3962.118350.00919
0.3972.117630.00914
0.3982.116920.0091
0.3992.116210.00906
0.42.115510.00902
0.4012.114810.00898
0.4022.114120.00894
0.4032.113450.0089
0.4042.112770.00886
0.4052.112110.00882
0.4062.111450.00878
0.4072.110790.00874
0.4082.110150.0087
0.4092.109510.00866
0.412.108870.00863
0.4112.108250.00859
0.4122.107620.00855
0.4132.107010.00851
0.4142.10640.00848
0.4152.10580.00844
0.4162.10520.00841
0.4172.104610.00837
0.4182.104020.00834
0.4192.103440.0083
0.422.102870.00827
0.4212.10230.00823
0.4222.101730.0082
0.4232.101170.00817
0.4242.100620.00814
0.4252.100070.0081
0.4262.099530.00807
0.4272.098990.00804
0.4282.098450.00801
0.4292.097930.00797
0.432.09740.00794
0.4312.096880.00791
0.4322.096370.00788
0.4332.095860.00785
0.4342.095350.00782
0.4352.094850.00779
0.4362.094360.00776
0.4372.093860.00773
0.4382.093380.0077
0.4392.092890.00767
0.442.092420.00765
0.4412.091940.00762
0.4422.091470.00759
0.4432.0910.00756
0.4442.090540.00753
0.4452.090080.00751
0.4462.089630.00748
0.4472.089180.00745
0.4482.088730.00742
0.4492.088290.0074
0.452.087850.00737
0.4512.087410.00735
0.4522.086980.00732
0.4532.086550.00729
0.4542.086130.00727
0.4552.085710.00724
0.4562.085290.00722
0.4572.084880.00719
0.4582.084470.00717
0.4592.084060.00714
0.462.083660.00712
0.4612.083250.00709
0.4622.082860.00707
0.4632.082460.00705
0.4642.082070.00702
0.4652.081690.007
0.4662.08130.00698
0.4672.080920.00695
0.4682.080540.00693
0.4692.080170.00691
0.472.079790.00688
0.4712.079420.00686
0.4722.079060.00684
0.4732.078690.00682
0.4742.078330.0068
0.4752.077970.00677
0.4762.077620.00675
0.4772.077270.00673
0.4782.076920.00671
0.4792.076570.00669
0.482.076230.00667
0.4812.075880.00665
0.4822.075550.00663
0.4832.075210.0066
0.4842.074880.00658
0.4852.074540.00656
0.4862.074210.00654
0.4872.073890.00652
0.4882.073560.0065
0.4892.073240.00648
0.492.072920.00646
0.4912.072610.00644
0.4922.072290.00643
0.4932.071980.00641
0.4942.071670.00639
0.4952.071360.00637
0.4962.071060.00635
0.4972.070760.00633
0.4982.070460.00631
0.4992.070160.00629
0.52.069860.00627
0.5012.069570.00626
0.5022.069270.00624
0.5032.068980.00622
0.5042.06870.0062
0.5052.068410.00618
0.5062.068130.00617
0.5072.067850.00615
0.5082.067570.00613
0.5092.067290.00611
0.512.067010.0061
0.5112.066740.00608
0.5122.066470.00606
0.5132.06620.00605
0.5142.065930.00603
0.5152.065660.00601
0.5162.06540.006
0.5172.065140.00598
0.5182.064870.00596
0.5192.064620.00595
0.522.064360.00593
0.5212.06410.00591
0.5222.063850.0059
0.5232.06360.00588
0.5242.063350.00587
0.5252.06310.00585
0.5262.062850.00583
0.5272.062610.00582
0.5282.062360.0058
0.5292.062120.00579
0.532.061880.00577
0.5312.061640.00576
0.5322.061410.00574
0.5332.061170.00573
0.5342.060940.00571
0.5352.06070.0057
0.5362.060470.00568
0.5372.060240.00567
0.5382.060020.00565
0.5392.059790.00564
0.542.059570.00562
0.5412.059340.00561
0.5422.059120.0056
0.5432.05890.00558
0.5442.058680.00557
0.5452.058460.00555
0.5462.058250.00554
0.5472.058030.00553
0.5482.057820.00551
0.5492.057610.0055
0.552.05740.00548
0.5512.057190.00547
0.5522.056980.00546
0.5532.056770.00544
0.5542.056570.00543
0.5552.056360.00542
0.5562.056160.0054
0.5572.055960.00539
0.5582.055760.00538
0.5592.055560.00537
0.562.055360.00535
0.5612.055160.00534
0.5622.054970.00533
0.5632.054770.00531
0.5642.054580.0053
0.5652.054390.00529
0.5662.05420.00528
0.5672.054010.00526
0.5682.053820.00525
0.5692.053630.00524
0.572.053450.00523
0.5712.053260.00521
0.5722.053080.0052
0.5732.05290.00519
0.5742.052720.00518
0.5752.052530.00517
0.5762.052360.00515
0.5772.052180.00514
0.5782.0520.00513
0.5792.051820.00512
0.582.051650.00511
0.5812.051470.0051
0.5822.05130.00508
0.5832.051130.00507
0.5842.050960.00506
0.5852.050790.00505
0.5862.050620.00504
0.5872.050450.00503
0.5882.050280.00502
0.5892.050120.005
0.592.049950.00499
0.5912.049790.00498
0.5922.049630.00497
0.5932.049460.00496
0.5942.04930.00495
0.5952.049140.00494
0.5962.048980.00493
0.5972.048820.00492
0.5982.048670.00491
0.5992.048510.0049
0.62.048350.00489
0.6012.04820.00487
0.6022.048040.00486
0.6032.047890.00485
0.6042.047740.00484
0.6052.047590.00483
0.6062.047440.00482
0.6072.047290.00481
0.6082.047140.0048
0.6092.046990.00479
0.612.046840.00478
0.6112.04670.00477
0.6122.046550.00476
0.6132.046410.00475
0.6142.046260.00474
0.6152.046120.00473
0.6162.045980.00472
0.6172.045830.00471
0.6182.045690.0047
0.6192.045550.00469
0.622.045410.00468
0.6212.045270.00467
0.6222.045140.00466
0.6232.0450.00465
0.6242.044860.00464
0.6252.044730.00464
0.6262.044590.00463
0.6272.044460.00462
0.6282.044330.00461
0.6292.044190.0046
0.632.044060.00459
0.6312.043930.00458
0.6322.04380.00457
0.6332.043670.00456
0.6342.043540.00455
0.6352.043410.00454
0.6362.043280.00453
0.6372.043160.00453
0.6382.043030.00452
0.6392.04290.00451
0.642.042780.0045
0.6412.042650.00449
0.6422.042530.00448
0.6432.042410.00447
0.6442.042280.00446
0.6452.042160.00445
0.6462.042040.00445
0.6472.041920.00444
0.6482.04180.00443
0.6492.041680.00442
0.652.041560.00441
0.6512.041440.0044
0.6522.041330.0044
0.6532.041210.00439
0.6542.041090.00438
0.6552.040980.00437
0.6562.040860.00436
0.6572.040750.00435
0.6582.040630.00435
0.6592.040520.00434
0.662.040410.00433
0.6612.040290.00432
0.6622.040180.00431
0.6632.040070.0043
0.6642.039960.0043
0.6652.039850.00429
0.6662.039740.00428
0.6672.039630.00427
0.6682.039520.00427
0.6692.039410.00426
0.672.039310.00425
0.6712.03920.00424
0.6722.039090.00423
0.6732.038990.00423
0.6742.038880.00422
0.6752.038780.00421
0.6762.038670.0042
0.6772.038570.0042
0.6782.038470.00419
0.6792.038360.00418
0.682.038260.00417
0.6812.038160.00417
0.6822.038060.00416
0.6832.037960.00415
0.6842.037860.00414
0.6852.037760.00414
0.6862.037660.00413
0.6872.037560.00412
0.6882.037460.00411
0.6892.037360.00411
0.692.037270.0041
0.6912.037170.00409
0.6922.037070.00408
0.6932.036980.00408
0.6942.036880.00407
0.6952.036790.00406
0.6962.036690.00406
0.6972.03660.00405
0.6982.03650.00404
0.6992.036410.00404
0.72.036320.00403
0.7012.036220.00402
0.7022.036130.00401
0.7032.036040.00401
0.7042.035950.004
0.7052.035860.00399
0.7062.035770.00399
0.7072.035680.00398
0.7082.035590.00397
0.7092.03550.00397
0.712.035410.00396
0.7112.035320.00395
0.7122.035240.00395
0.7132.035150.00394
0.7142.035060.00393
0.7152.034970.00393
0.7162.034890.00392
0.7172.03480.00391
0.7182.034720.00391
0.7192.034630.0039
0.722.034550.00389
0.7212.034460.00389
0.7222.034380.00388
0.7232.03430.00387
0.7242.034210.00387
0.7252.034130.00386
0.7262.034050.00386
0.7272.033960.00385
0.7282.033880.00384
0.7292.03380.00384
0.732.033720.00383
0.7312.033640.00382
0.7322.033560.00382
0.7332.033480.00381
0.7342.03340.00381
0.7352.033320.0038
0.7362.033240.00379
0.7372.033160.00379
0.7382.033090.00378
0.7392.033010.00377
0.742.032930.00377
0.7412.032850.00376
0.7422.032780.00376
0.7432.03270.00375
0.7442.032620.00374
0.7452.032550.00374
0.7462.032470.00373
0.7472.03240.00373
0.7482.032320.00372
0.7492.032250.00372
0.752.032180.00371
0.7512.03210.0037
0.7522.032030.0037
0.7532.031960.00369
0.7542.031880.00369
0.7552.031810.00368
0.7562.031740.00367
0.7572.031670.00367
0.7582.031590.00366
0.7592.031520.00366
0.762.031450.00365
0.7612.031380.00365
0.7622.031310.00364
0.7632.031240.00364
0.7642.031170.00363
0.7652.03110.00362
0.7662.031030.00362
0.7672.030960.00361
0.7682.030890.00361
0.7692.030830.0036
0.772.030760.0036
0.7712.030690.00359
0.7722.030620.00359
0.7732.030560.00358
0.7742.030490.00357
0.7752.030420.00357
0.7762.030360.00356
0.7772.030290.00356
0.7782.030220.00355
0.7792.030160.00355
0.782.030090.00354
0.7812.030030.00354
0.7822.029960.00353
0.7832.02990.00353
0.7842.029840.00352
0.7852.029770.00352
0.7862.029710.00351
0.7872.029640.00351
0.7882.029580.0035
0.7892.029520.0035
0.792.029460.00349
0.7912.029390.00349
0.7922.029330.00348
0.7932.029270.00348
0.7942.029210.00347
0.7952.029150.00347
0.7962.029090.00346
0.7972.029020.00346
0.7982.028960.00345
0.7992.02890.00345
0.82.028840.00344
0.8012.028780.00344
0.8022.028720.00343
0.8032.028660.00343
0.8042.028610.00342
0.8052.028550.00342
0.8062.028490.00341
0.8072.028430.00341
0.8082.028370.0034
0.8092.028310.0034
0.812.028260.00339
0.8112.02820.00339
0.8122.028140.00338
0.8132.028080.00338
0.8142.028030.00337
0.8152.027970.00337
0.8162.027910.00336
0.8172.027860.00336
0.8182.02780.00335
0.8192.027750.00335
0.822.027690.00334
0.8212.027640.00334
0.8222.027580.00333
0.8232.027530.00333
0.8242.027470.00332
0.8252.027420.00332
0.8262.027360.00332
0.8272.027310.00331
0.8282.027250.00331
0.8292.02720.0033
0.832.027150.0033
0.8312.027090.00329
0.8322.027040.00329
0.8332.026990.00328
0.8342.026940.00328
0.8352.026880.00327
0.8362.026830.00327
0.8372.026780.00327
0.8382.026730.00326
0.8392.026680.00326
0.842.026620.00325
0.8412.026570.00325
0.8422.026520.00324
0.8432.026470.00324
0.8442.026420.00324
0.8452.026370.00323
0.8462.026320.00323
0.8472.026270.00322
0.8482.026220.00322
0.8492.026170.00321
0.852.026120.00321
0.8512.026070.0032
0.8522.026020.0032
0.8532.025970.0032
0.8542.025930.00319
0.8552.025880.00319
0.8562.025830.00318
0.8572.025780.00318
0.8582.025730.00318
0.8592.025680.00317
0.862.025640.00317
0.8612.025590.00316
0.8622.025540.00316
0.8632.025490.00315
0.8642.025450.00315
0.8652.02540.00315
0.8662.025350.00314
0.8672.025310.00314
0.8682.025260.00313
0.8692.025220.00313
0.872.025170.00313
0.8712.025120.00312
0.8722.025080.00312
0.8732.025030.00311
0.8742.024990.00311
0.8752.024940.00311
0.8762.02490.0031
0.8772.024850.0031
0.8782.024810.00309
0.8792.024760.00309
0.882.024720.00309
0.8812.024670.00308
0.8822.024630.00308
0.8832.024590.00307
0.8842.024540.00307
0.8852.02450.00307
0.8862.024460.00306
0.8872.024410.00306
0.8882.024370.00305
0.8892.024330.00305
0.892.024280.00305
0.8912.024240.00304
0.8922.02420.00304
0.8932.024160.00303
0.8942.024120.00303
0.8952.024070.00303
0.8962.024030.00302
0.8972.023990.00302
0.8982.023950.00302
0.8992.023910.00301
0.92.023870.00301
0.9012.023820.003
0.9022.023780.003
0.9032.023740.003
0.9042.02370.00299
0.9052.023660.00299
0.9062.023620.00299
0.9072.023580.00298
0.9082.023540.00298
0.9092.02350.00298
0.912.023460.00297
0.9112.023420.00297
0.9122.023380.00296
0.9132.023340.00296
0.9142.02330.00296
0.9152.023260.00295
0.9162.023230.00295
0.9172.023190.00295
0.9182.023150.00294
0.9192.023110.00294
0.922.023070.00294
0.9212.023030.00293
0.9222.022990.00293
0.9232.022960.00292
0.9242.022920.00292
0.9252.022880.00292
0.9262.022840.00291
0.9272.02280.00291
0.9282.022770.00291
0.9292.022730.0029
0.932.022690.0029
0.9312.022660.0029
0.9322.022620.00289
0.9332.022580.00289
0.9342.022550.00289
0.9352.022510.00288
0.9362.022470.00288
0.9372.022440.00288
0.9382.02240.00287
0.9392.022360.00287
0.942.022330.00287
0.9412.022290.00286
0.9422.022260.00286
0.9432.022220.00286
0.9442.022190.00285
0.9452.022150.00285
0.9462.022120.00285
0.9472.022080.00284
0.9482.022040.00284
0.9492.022010.00284
0.952.021980.00283
0.9512.021940.00283
0.9522.021910.00283
0.9532.021870.00282
0.9542.021840.00282
0.9552.02180.00282
0.9562.021770.00281
0.9572.021740.00281
0.9582.02170.00281
0.9592.021670.0028
0.962.021630.0028
0.9612.02160.0028
0.9622.021570.00279
0.9632.021530.00279
0.9642.02150.00279
0.9652.021470.00278
0.9662.021430.00278
0.9672.02140.00278
0.9682.021370.00277
0.9692.021340.00277
0.972.02130.00277
0.9712.021270.00276
0.9722.021240.00276
0.9732.021210.00276
0.9742.021170.00276
0.9752.021140.00275
0.9762.021110.00275
0.9772.021080.00275
0.9782.021050.00274
0.9792.021020.00274
0.982.020980.00274
0.9812.020950.00273
0.9822.020920.00273
0.9832.020890.00273
0.9842.020860.00272
0.9852.020830.00272
0.9862.02080.00272
0.9872.020770.00272
0.9882.020740.00271
0.9892.02070.00271
0.992.020670.00271
0.9912.020640.0027
0.9922.020610.0027
0.9932.020580.0027
0.9942.020550.00269
0.9952.020520.00269
0.9962.020490.00269
0.9972.020460.00269
0.9982.020430.00268
0.9992.02040.00268
1.02.020370.00268

Optical transmission calculator

Free-standing sample in vacuum, normal incidence
Method
Transmittance T
—
Reflectance R
—

Fresnel reflection calculator

Direction
Rp
—
Rs
—
R = (Rp+Rs)/2
—
Phase φp
—
Phase φs
—
Brewster angle θB
—
Critical angle θC
—