Optical constants

Refractive index of BN (Boron nitride)

Lee et al. 2018: h-BN; n(o) 0.450–1.20 µm

Data: formula 1
Range: 0.45–1.2 µm
Optical axis: o
State: crystalline
Licence: CC0-1.0

Uniaxial crystal, axes: o

Axis Log x Log y

Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.

At one wavelength

Refractive index n: 2.13075
Extinction coefficient k: 0

Permittivity ε₁: 4.54011
Permittivity ε₂: 0

Absorption coefficient α: 0 cm⁻¹
Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk): — nm

Abbe number V_d: 23.861
Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ: -0.240128 µm⁻¹

Group index n_g: 2.27185
Group velocity dispersion: 480.612 fs²/mm

Dispersion parameter D: -2621.99 ps/(nm·km)
Photon energy: 2.11001 eV

ε = (n + ik)², α = 4πk/λ, n_g = 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): Lee et al. 2018: h-BN; n(o) 0.450–1.20 µm
bn = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("main", "BN", "Lee", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(bn.range_nm)  # (450, 1200) nm
eps = bn.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_2f7552c117ea/lightsmith"
bn = ls.Tabulated.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))
print(bn.source)  # citation and provenance travel with the data

Any dataset here, as the library's Tabulated material (bn/lee-2018).

# ... load bn as above, then:
sim = ls.Simulation(
    particles=[ls.Particle(shape=ls.Sphere(radius_nm=50), material=bn)],
    medium_index=1.0,
    wavelengths=ls.WavelengthRange(start_nm=450, 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"]).

import json, urllib.request
import lightsmith as ls

url = "https://materials.lightsmith.dev/v1/datasets/ds_2f7552c117ea/lightsmith?model=drude_lorentz"
bn_dl = ls.DrudeLorentz.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))

A dispersive Drude–Lorentz model for time-domain solvers.

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.

Dispersion formula

Sellmeier (formula 1), λ in µm

n^{2} - 1 = \frac{3.263 λ^{2}}{λ^{2} - {0.1644}^{2}}

Valid from 0.45 to 1.2 µm.

Coefficients as stored

C_i	Value
C1	0.0
C2	3.263
C3	0.1644

Comments and conditions

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). In-plane refractive index (ordinary ray, n_o). h-BN flakes of thickness around 1000 nm were mechanically exfoliated from a bulk crystal and transferred onto quartz substrates for transmission measurements. The single oscillator model is used to fit transmission spectra of several hBN flakes of different thickness.

Conditions

film thickness: 1e-6
substrate: SiO2
direction: o

References

S. Y. Lee, T. Y. Jeong, S. Jung, K. J. Yee. Refractive index dispersion of hexagonal boron nitride in the visible and near-infrared. Phys. Status Solidi B, 256, 1800417 (2018)

doi:10.1002/pssb.201800417 Refractive Index Dispersion of Hexagonal Boron Nitride in the Visible and Near‐Infrared, physica status solidi (b) (2018)

Cite

Seong‐Yeon Lee, Tae‐Young Jeong, Suyong Jung and Ki‐Ju Yee. Refractive Index Dispersion of Hexagonal Boron Nitride in the Visible and Near‐Infrared. physica status solidi (b), 256, 1800417 (2018), doi:10.1002/pssb.201800417; 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

CSV comma separated TXT tab separated YAML n, k Full database record original YAML All quantities CSV JSON metadata

BN (Boron nitride), Lee et al. 2018: h-BN; n(o) 0.450–1.20 µm: n and k versus wavelength
λ (µm)	n
0.45	2.183022
0.451108	2.182371
0.452218	2.181724
0.453331	2.181081
0.454447	2.180442
0.455565	2.179806
0.456686	2.179175
0.45781	2.178547
0.458937	2.177923
0.460067	2.177303
0.461199	2.176687
0.462334	2.176074
0.463472	2.175465
0.464613	2.17486
0.465756	2.174258
0.466903	2.17366
0.468052	2.173066
0.469204	2.172475
0.470359	2.171888
0.471516	2.171304
0.472677	2.170724
0.47384	2.170147
0.475006	2.169574
0.476176	2.169004
0.477348	2.168438
0.478522	2.167875
0.4797	2.167315
0.480881	2.166758
0.482064	2.166205
0.483251	2.165655
0.48444	2.165109
0.485633	2.164565
0.486828	2.164025
0.488026	2.163488
0.489227	2.162955
0.490431	2.162424
0.491638	2.161897
0.492848	2.161372
0.494061	2.160851
0.495277	2.160333
0.496496	2.159818
0.497718	2.159305
0.498943	2.158796
0.500171	2.15829
0.501403	2.157787
0.502637	2.157287
0.503874	2.156789
0.505114	2.156295
0.506357	2.155804
0.507603	2.155315
0.508853	2.154829
0.510105	2.154346
0.511361	2.153866
0.512619	2.153389
0.513881	2.152914
0.515146	2.152442
0.516414	2.151973
0.517685	2.151507
0.518959	2.151043
0.520236	2.150582
0.521516	2.150123
0.5228	2.149668
0.524087	2.149215
0.525377	2.148764
0.52667	2.148316
0.527966	2.147871
0.529265	2.147428
0.530568	2.146988
0.531874	2.14655
0.533183	2.146115
0.534495	2.145683
0.535811	2.145252
0.53713	2.144825
0.538452	2.144399
0.539777	2.143976
0.541105	2.143556
0.542437	2.143138
0.543772	2.142722
0.545111	2.142309
0.546452	2.141898
0.547797	2.141489
0.549145	2.141083
0.550497	2.140679
0.551852	2.140277
0.55321	2.139878
0.554572	2.139481
0.555937	2.139086
0.557305	2.138693
0.558677	2.138303
0.560052	2.137915
0.56143	2.137529
0.562812	2.137145
0.564197	2.136763
0.565586	2.136384
0.566978	2.136006
0.568373	2.135631
0.569772	2.135258
0.571175	2.134887
0.57258	2.134518
0.57399	2.134151
0.575402	2.133786
0.576819	2.133423
0.578238	2.133062
0.579661	2.132703
0.581088	2.132347
0.582518	2.131992
0.583952	2.131639
0.585389	2.131288
0.58683	2.130939
0.588274	2.130593
0.589722	2.130248
0.591174	2.129904
0.592629	2.129563
0.594087	2.129224
0.59555	2.128887
0.597015	2.128551
0.598485	2.128218
0.599958	2.127886
0.601434	2.127556
0.602915	2.127228
0.604399	2.126901
0.605886	2.126577
0.607377	2.126254
0.608872	2.125933
0.610371	2.125614
0.611873	2.125297
0.613379	2.124981
0.614889	2.124667
0.616402	2.124355
0.617919	2.124045
0.61944	2.123736
0.620965	2.123429
0.622493	2.123124
0.624025	2.12282
0.625561	2.122518
0.627101	2.122217
0.628644	2.121919
0.630191	2.121622
0.631742	2.121326
0.633297	2.121032
0.634856	2.12074
0.636419	2.12045
0.637985	2.120161
0.639555	2.119873
0.641129	2.119587
0.642707	2.119303
0.644289	2.11902
0.645875	2.118739
0.647464	2.118459
0.649058	2.118181
0.650656	2.117905
0.652257	2.117629
0.653862	2.117356
0.655472	2.117084
0.657085	2.116813
0.658702	2.116544
0.660323	2.116276
0.661949	2.11601
0.663578	2.115745
0.665211	2.115482
0.666848	2.11522
0.66849	2.114959
0.670135	2.1147
0.671784	2.114442
0.673438	2.114186
0.675095	2.113931
0.676757	2.113677
0.678422	2.113425
0.680092	2.113174
0.681766	2.112925
0.683444	2.112676
0.685126	2.11243
0.686812	2.112184
0.688503	2.11194
0.690197	2.111697
0.691896	2.111455
0.693599	2.111215
0.695306	2.110976
0.697017	2.110738
0.698733	2.110502
0.700453	2.110267
0.702177	2.110033
0.703905	2.1098
0.705637	2.109569
0.707374	2.109339
0.709115	2.10911
0.710861	2.108882
0.71261	2.108656
0.714364	2.108431
0.716122	2.108207
0.717885	2.107984
0.719652	2.107762
0.721423	2.107542
0.723199	2.107322
0.724979	2.107104
0.726763	2.106887
0.728552	2.106671
0.730345	2.106457
0.732142	2.106243
0.733944	2.106031
0.735751	2.105819
0.737562	2.105609
0.739377	2.1054
0.741197	2.105192
0.743021	2.104986
0.74485	2.10478
0.746683	2.104575
0.748521	2.104372
0.750363	2.104169
0.75221	2.103968
0.754061	2.103768
0.755917	2.103568
0.757778	2.10337
0.759643	2.103173
0.761512	2.102977
0.763387	2.102782
0.765265	2.102588
0.767149	2.102395
0.769037	2.102203
0.77093	2.102012
0.772827	2.101822
0.774729	2.101633
0.776636	2.101445
0.778548	2.101258
0.780464	2.101072
0.782385	2.100887
0.784311	2.100703
0.786241	2.10052
0.788176	2.100338
0.790116	2.100157
0.792061	2.099977
0.79401	2.099798
0.795964	2.099619
0.797923	2.099442
0.799887	2.099265
0.801856	2.09909
0.80383	2.098915
0.805808	2.098742
0.807791	2.098569
0.809779	2.098397
0.811772	2.098226
0.81377	2.098056
0.815773	2.097887
0.817781	2.097719
0.819794	2.097551
0.821812	2.097385
0.823834	2.097219
0.825862	2.097054
0.827895	2.096891
0.829932	2.096728
0.831975	2.096565
0.834023	2.096404
0.836075	2.096243
0.838133	2.096084
0.840196	2.095925
0.842264	2.095767
0.844337	2.09561
0.846415	2.095453
0.848498	2.095298
0.850587	2.095143
0.85268	2.094989
0.854779	2.094836
0.856883	2.094684
0.858992	2.094532
0.861106	2.094381
0.863225	2.094231
0.86535	2.094082
0.86748	2.093934
0.869615	2.093786
0.871755	2.093639
0.873901	2.093493
0.876051	2.093348
0.878208	2.093203
0.880369	2.093059
0.882536	2.092916
0.884708	2.092774
0.886886	2.092632
0.889068	2.092492
0.891257	2.092351
0.89345	2.092212
0.895649	2.092073
0.897854	2.091935
0.900063	2.091798
0.902279	2.091661
0.904499	2.091526
0.906726	2.09139
0.908957	2.091256
0.911194	2.091122
0.913437	2.090989
0.915685	2.090857
0.917939	2.090725
0.920198	2.090594
0.922463	2.090464
0.924734	2.090334
0.92701	2.090205
0.929291	2.090077
0.931578	2.089949
0.933871	2.089822
0.93617	2.089696
0.938474	2.08957
0.940784	2.089445
0.943099	2.089321
0.94542	2.089197
0.947747	2.089074
0.95008	2.088951
0.952418	2.088829
0.954762	2.088708
0.957112	2.088587
0.959468	2.088467
0.961829	2.088348
0.964197	2.088229
0.96657	2.088111
0.968949	2.087994
0.971334	2.087877
0.973724	2.08776
0.976121	2.087645
0.978523	2.087529
0.980932	2.087415
0.983346	2.087301
0.985766	2.087188
0.988193	2.087075
0.990625	2.086963
0.993063	2.086851
0.995507	2.08674
0.997957	2.086629
1.00041	2.086519
1.00288	2.08641
1.00534	2.086301
1.00782	2.086193
1.0103	2.086085
1.01279	2.085978
1.01528	2.085871
1.01778	2.085765
1.02028	2.08566
1.02279	2.085555
1.02531	2.08545
1.02783	2.085347
1.03036	2.085243
1.0329	2.08514
1.03544	2.085038
1.03799	2.084936
1.04055	2.084835
1.04311	2.084734
1.04567	2.084634
1.04825	2.084534
1.05083	2.084435
1.05341	2.084336
1.05601	2.084238
1.05861	2.08414
1.06121	2.084043
1.06382	2.083946
1.06644	2.08385
1.06907	2.083754
1.0717	2.083659
1.07433	2.083564
1.07698	2.08347
1.07963	2.083376
1.08229	2.083283
1.08495	2.08319
1.08762	2.083098
1.0903	2.083006
1.09298	2.082914
1.09567	2.082823
1.09837	2.082733
1.10107	2.082643
1.10378	2.082553
1.1065	2.082464
1.10922	2.082375
1.11195	2.082287
1.11469	2.082199
1.11743	2.082112
1.12018	2.082025
1.12294	2.081939
1.1257	2.081853
1.12847	2.081767
1.13125	2.081682
1.13404	2.081597
1.13683	2.081513
1.13962	2.081429
1.14243	2.081346
1.14524	2.081263
1.14806	2.08118
1.15089	2.081098
1.15372	2.081016
1.15656	2.080935
1.1594	2.080854
1.16226	2.080773
1.16512	2.080693
1.16799	2.080614
1.17086	2.080534
1.17374	2.080455
1.17663	2.080377
1.17953	2.080299
1.18243	2.080221
1.18534	2.080144
1.18826	2.080067
1.19118	2.07999
1.19411	2.079914
1.19705	2.079839
1.2	2.079763

Optical transmission calculator

Free-standing sample in vacuum, normal incidence

Transmittance T: —
Reflectance R: —

Fresnel reflection calculator

R_p: —
R_s: —
R = (R_p+R_s)/2: —
Phase φ_p: —
Phase φ_s: —
Brewster angle θ_B: —
Critical angle θ_C: —

BN (Boron nitride): all datasets

Experimental data

Models and simulations

About BN (Boron nitride)

Boron nitride (BN) is a versatile material that exists in various structural forms, each with distinct physical and chemical properties. The two most notable allotropes are hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and cubic boron nitride (c-BN). Hexagonal BN resembles the structure of graphite and is often used as a lubricant and an insulator due to its excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance. It is also transparent to ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet light, which makes it useful in optical applications. Cubic BN, on the other hand, has a structure similar to that of diamond and exhibits extraordinary hardness, second only to diamond itself. It is used in high-pressure applications and as an abrasive material. Both forms have high thermal conductivity and are chemically stable, making them suitable for a variety of high-temperature applications. Boron nitride can be synthesized using methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and its properties can be tuned via doping or alloying with other materials. Overall, the diverse structural forms and resultant properties of boron nitride make it a material of significant interest for a wide array of applications, from electronics to cutting tools and optical devices.

More about BN (Boron nitride) →

Provenance

Version: 1 (snapshot c5c2f18)
Source page: refractiveindex.info
Original file: database/data/main/BN/nk/Lee.yml
ID: ds_2f7552c117ea
API: /v1/datasets/ds_2f7552c117ea

Plot