Optical constants

Refractive index of CaCO₃ (Calcium carbonate, Calcite)

Ghosh 1999: n(e) 0.204–2.172 µm

Data: formula 2
Range: 0.204–2.172 µm
Optical axis: e
Licence: CC0-1.0

Uniaxial crystal, axes: oe

Axis Log x Log y

Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.

At one wavelength

Refractive index n: 1.48618
Extinction coefficient k: 0

Permittivity ε₁: 2.20874
Permittivity ε₂: 0

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

Abbe number V_d: 79.167
Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ: -0.0315338 µm⁻¹

Group index n_g: 1.50471
Group velocity dispersion: 58.8502 fs²/mm

Dispersion parameter D: -321.059 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

# CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate, Calcite): Ghosh 1999: n(e) 0.204–2.172 µm
caco3 = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("main", "CaCO3", "Ghosh-e", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(caco3.range_nm)  # (204, 2172) nm
eps = caco3.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_e4c5fd06e6f1/lightsmith"
caco3 = ls.Tabulated.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))
print(caco3.source)  # citation and provenance travel with the data

Any dataset here, as the library's Tabulated material (caco3/ghosh-1999-e).

# ... load caco3 as above, then:
sim = ls.Simulation(
    particles=[ls.Particle(shape=ls.Sphere(radius_nm=50), material=caco3)],
    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"]).

import json, urllib.request
import lightsmith as ls

url = "https://materials.lightsmith.dev/v1/datasets/ds_e4c5fd06e6f1/lightsmith?model=drude_lorentz"
caco3_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 (C in µm²) (formula 2), λ in µm

n^{2} - 1 = 0.35859695 + \frac{0.8242783 λ^{2}}{λ^{2} - 0.0106689543} + \frac{0.14429128 λ^{2}}{λ^{2} - 120.0}

Valid from 0.204 to 2.172 µm.

Coefficients as stored

C_i	Value
C1	0.35859695
C2	0.8242783
C3	0.0106689543
C4	0.14429128
C5	120.0

Comments and conditions

Extraordinary ray (e). Room temperature

Conditions

direction: e

References

G. Ghosh. Dispersion-equation coefficients for the refractive index and birefringence of calcite and quartz crystals. Opt. Commun. 163, 95-102 (1999)

doi:10.1016/s0030-4018(99)00091-7 Dispersion-equation coefficients for the refractive index and birefringence of calcite and quartz crystals, Optics Communications (1999)

Cite

Gorachand Ghosh. Dispersion-equation coefficients for the refractive index and birefringence of calcite and quartz crystals. Optics Communications, 163, 95-102 (1999), doi:10.1016/s0030-4018(99)00091-7; 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

CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate, Calcite), Ghosh 1999: n(e) 0.204–2.172 µm: n and k versus wavelength
λ (µm)	n
0.204	1.570667
0.205213	1.569238
0.206433	1.567836
0.20766	1.56646
0.208895	1.56511
0.210137	1.563785
0.211386	1.562484
0.212643	1.561208
0.213908	1.559954
0.215179	1.558723
0.216459	1.557514
0.217746	1.556327
0.21904	1.555161
0.220343	1.554015
0.221653	1.55289
0.222971	1.551785
0.224296	1.550699
0.22563	1.549631
0.226972	1.548583
0.228321	1.547552
0.229679	1.546539
0.231044	1.545543
0.232418	1.544564
0.2338	1.543602
0.23519	1.542656
0.236588	1.541726
0.237995	1.540811
0.23941	1.539912
0.240833	1.539027
0.242265	1.538157
0.243706	1.537301
0.245155	1.53646
0.246612	1.535632
0.248078	1.534817
0.249553	1.534016
0.251037	1.533227
0.25253	1.532451
0.254031	1.531688
0.255542	1.530936
0.257061	1.530197
0.258589	1.529469
0.260127	1.528753
0.261673	1.528048
0.263229	1.527354
0.264794	1.526671
0.266369	1.525998
0.267952	1.525336
0.269546	1.524684
0.271148	1.524042
0.27276	1.52341
0.274382	1.522788
0.276013	1.522175
0.277654	1.521571
0.279305	1.520977
0.280966	1.520391
0.282636	1.519815
0.284317	1.519246
0.286007	1.518687
0.287708	1.518136
0.289418	1.517593
0.291139	1.517058
0.29287	1.516531
0.294612	1.516011
0.296363	1.5155
0.298125	1.514996
0.299898	1.514499
0.301681	1.514009
0.303475	1.513527
0.305279	1.513052
0.307094	1.512583
0.30892	1.512121
0.310757	1.511666
0.312604	1.511218
0.314463	1.510776
0.316333	1.51034
0.318213	1.50991
0.320105	1.509487
0.322009	1.509069
0.323923	1.508658
0.325849	1.508252
0.327786	1.507852
0.329735	1.507458
0.331696	1.507069
0.333668	1.506686
0.335652	1.506308
0.337648	1.505935
0.339655	1.505567
0.341675	1.505205
0.343706	1.504848
0.34575	1.504495
0.347805	1.504148
0.349873	1.503805
0.351953	1.503467
0.354046	1.503133
0.356151	1.502804
0.358269	1.50248
0.360399	1.50216
0.362541	1.501844
0.364697	1.501533
0.366865	1.501226
0.369047	1.500923
0.371241	1.500624
0.373448	1.500329
0.375668	1.500039
0.377902	1.499752
0.380149	1.499469
0.382409	1.499189
0.384683	1.498914
0.38697	1.498642
0.389271	1.498374
0.391585	1.498109
0.393913	1.497848
0.396256	1.49759
0.398612	1.497336
0.400982	1.497085
0.403366	1.496838
0.405764	1.496593
0.408176	1.496352
0.410603	1.496114
0.413045	1.495879
0.4155	1.495648
0.417971	1.495419
0.420456	1.495193
0.422956	1.494971
0.425471	1.494751
0.428	1.494534
0.430545	1.49432
0.433105	1.494108
0.43568	1.493899
0.43827	1.493694
0.440876	1.49349
0.443497	1.49329
0.446134	1.493091
0.448787	1.492896
0.451455	1.492703
0.454139	1.492512
0.456839	1.492324
0.459556	1.492138
0.462288	1.491955
0.465037	1.491774
0.467802	1.491595
0.470583	1.491419
0.473381	1.491245
0.476195	1.491073
0.479027	1.490903
0.481875	1.490735
0.48474	1.49057
0.487622	1.490407
0.490521	1.490245
0.493438	1.490086
0.496371	1.489928
0.499323	1.489773
0.502291	1.48962
0.505278	1.489468
0.508282	1.489319
0.511304	1.489171
0.514344	1.489025
0.517402	1.488881
0.520479	1.488739
0.523573	1.488598
0.526686	1.488459
0.529818	1.488322
0.532968	1.488187
0.536136	1.488053
0.539324	1.487921
0.542531	1.487791
0.545756	1.487662
0.549001	1.487535
0.552266	1.487409
0.555549	1.487285
0.558852	1.487163
0.562175	1.487042
0.565517	1.486922
0.56888	1.486804
0.572262	1.486687
0.575665	1.486572
0.579087	1.486458
0.58253	1.486345
0.585994	1.486234
0.589478	1.486125
0.592983	1.486016
0.596508	1.485909
0.600055	1.485803
0.603623	1.485698
0.607212	1.485595
0.610822	1.485493
0.614454	1.485392
0.618107	1.485292
0.621782	1.485194
0.625479	1.485097
0.629198	1.485001
0.632939	1.484906
0.636702	1.484812
0.640488	1.484719
0.644296	1.484627
0.648126	1.484537
0.65198	1.484447
0.655856	1.484359
0.659756	1.484271
0.663678	1.484185
0.667624	1.4841
0.671594	1.484015
0.675587	1.483932
0.679604	1.483849
0.683644	1.483768
0.687709	1.483687
0.691798	1.483608
0.695911	1.483529
0.700049	1.483451
0.704211	1.483374
0.708398	1.483298
0.71261	1.483223
0.716847	1.483149
0.721109	1.483076
0.725396	1.483003
0.729709	1.482931
0.734048	1.48286
0.738412	1.48279
0.742803	1.482721
0.747219	1.482652
0.751662	1.482585
0.756131	1.482518
0.760627	1.482451
0.765149	1.482386
0.769698	1.482321
0.774275	1.482257
0.778878	1.482194
0.783509	1.482131
0.788168	1.482069
0.792854	1.482008
0.797568	1.481947
0.80231	1.481887
0.80708	1.481828
0.811879	1.481769
0.816706	1.481711
0.821562	1.481654
0.826446	1.481597
0.83136	1.481541
0.836303	1.481485
0.841275	1.48143
0.846277	1.481376
0.851309	1.481322
0.85637	1.481269
0.861462	1.481216
0.866584	1.481164
0.871736	1.481112
0.87692	1.481061
0.882133	1.48101
0.887378	1.48096
0.892654	1.480911
0.897962	1.480862
0.903301	1.480813
0.908671	1.480765
0.914074	1.480718
0.919509	1.480671
0.924976	1.480624
0.930475	1.480578
0.936008	1.480532
0.941573	1.480487
0.947171	1.480442
0.952802	1.480398
0.958467	1.480354
0.964166	1.48031
0.969899	1.480267
0.975665	1.480224
0.981466	1.480182
0.987302	1.48014
0.993172	1.480099
0.999077	1.480058
1.00502	1.480017
1.01099	1.479976
1.017	1.479936
1.02305	1.479897
1.02913	1.479858
1.03525	1.479819
1.04141	1.47978
1.0476	1.479742
1.05383	1.479704
1.06009	1.479666
1.0664	1.479629
1.07274	1.479592
1.07911	1.479555
1.08553	1.479519
1.09198	1.479483
1.09848	1.479447
1.10501	1.479411
1.11158	1.479376
1.11819	1.479341
1.12484	1.479306
1.13152	1.479272
1.13825	1.479238
1.14502	1.479204
1.15183	1.47917
1.15868	1.479137
1.16556	1.479104
1.17249	1.479071
1.17947	1.479038
1.18648	1.479005
1.19353	1.478973
1.20063	1.478941
1.20777	1.478909
1.21495	1.478878
1.22217	1.478846
1.22944	1.478815
1.23675	1.478784
1.2441	1.478753
1.2515	1.478723
1.25894	1.478692
1.26642	1.478662
1.27395	1.478632
1.28153	1.478602
1.28915	1.478572
1.29681	1.478542
1.30452	1.478513
1.31228	1.478483
1.32008	1.478454
1.32793	1.478425
1.33583	1.478396
1.34377	1.478367
1.35176	1.478339
1.3598	1.47831
1.36788	1.478282
1.37601	1.478253
1.38419	1.478225
1.39242	1.478197
1.4007	1.478169
1.40903	1.478141
1.41741	1.478113
1.42584	1.478086
1.43431	1.478058
1.44284	1.47803
1.45142	1.478003
1.46005	1.477976
1.46873	1.477948
1.47746	1.477921
1.48625	1.477894
1.49508	1.477867
1.50397	1.477839
1.51292	1.477812
1.52191	1.477785
1.53096	1.477758
1.54006	1.477732
1.54922	1.477705
1.55843	1.477678
1.5677	1.477651
1.57702	1.477624
1.58639	1.477597
1.59583	1.47757
1.60531	1.477544
1.61486	1.477517
1.62446	1.47749
1.63412	1.477463
1.64383	1.477436
1.65361	1.47741
1.66344	1.477383
1.67333	1.477356
1.68328	1.477329
1.69329	1.477302
1.70335	1.477275
1.71348	1.477248
1.72367	1.477221
1.73392	1.477194
1.74423	1.477167
1.7546	1.47714
1.76503	1.477113
1.77552	1.477085
1.78608	1.477058
1.7967	1.477031
1.80738	1.477003
1.81813	1.476976
1.82894	1.476948
1.83981	1.47692
1.85075	1.476892
1.86176	1.476864
1.87282	1.476836
1.88396	1.476808
1.89516	1.47678
1.90643	1.476752
1.91776	1.476723
1.92917	1.476695
1.94064	1.476666
1.95217	1.476637
1.96378	1.476608
1.97546	1.476579
1.9872	1.476549
1.99902	1.47652
2.0109	1.47649
2.02286	1.476461
2.03489	1.476431
2.04699	1.476401
2.05916	1.47637
2.0714	1.47634
2.08371	1.476309
2.0961	1.476278
2.10857	1.476247
2.1211	1.476216
2.13371	1.476185
2.1464	1.476153
2.15916	1.476121
2.172	1.476089

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: —

CaCO₃ (Calcium carbonate, Calcite): all datasets

About CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate, Calcite)

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is a common inorganic compound that exists in various forms, including calcite, aragonite, and vaterite, each with distinct crystal structures and properties. Calcite, the most stable form, is a birefringent material widely studied for its unique optical characteristics. Its birefringence enables the separation of light into two refracted rays, making it useful in polarizers, optical modulators, and other specialized optical applications. Beyond optics, calcium carbonate is a key component in the construction industry, where it is used as a building material and in the manufacture of cement. It also serves as a primary raw material in the production of lime (CaO) and finds widespread use as a filler in products like paper, paint, and plastics. In biological contexts, calcium carbonate is the main component of shells, coral skeletons, and eggshells. It is synthesized through various methods, including precipitation from calcium and carbonate ions in aqueous solutions, and its properties can be fine-tuned through doping or composite formation. Overall, calcium carbonate is a multifaceted material with applications ranging from optics and construction to biology. Mineral: Calcite

More about CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate, Calcite) →

Provenance

Version: 1 (snapshot c5c2f18)
Source page: refractiveindex.info
Original file: database/data/main/CaCO3/nk/Ghosh-e.yml
ID: ds_e4c5fd06e6f1
API: /v1/datasets/ds_e4c5fd06e6f1

Plot