Optical constants

Refractive index of CdTe (Cadmium telluride)

Treharne et al. 2011: n,k 0.3–1.5 µm

Data
tabulated nk
Range
0.3014–1.498 µm
Points
583
Licence
CC0-1.0

Plot

Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.

At one wavelength

Range 0.3014–1.498 µm
Refractive index n
2.95894
Extinction coefficient k
0.319753
Permittivity ε1
8.65308
Permittivity ε2
1.89226
Absorption coefficient α
68382.1 cm⁻¹
Penetration depth δ = λ/(2πk)
292.474 nm
Abbe number Vd
—
Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ
-0.344099 µm⁻¹
Group index ng
3.16113
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

# CdTe (Cadmium telluride): Treharne et al. 2011: n,k 0.3–1.5 µm
cdte = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("main", "CdTe", "Treharne", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(cdte.range_nm)  # (301.418, 1497.94) nm
eps = cdte.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

A CdTe film was deposited on to a soda-lime glass substrate using RF magnetron sputtering. A variable-angle ellipsometer was used to take amplitude and phase change measurements. The refractive index and extinction coefficient was extracted from a multi-oscillator model fit to the ellipsometry data, as a function of wavelength, from 300 to 1500 nm

References

R. E. Treharne, A. Seymour-Pierce, K. Durose, K. Hutchings, S. Roncallo, D. Lane, Optical design and fabrication of fully sputtered CdTe/CdS solar cells. J. Phys: Conf. Ser. 286, 012038, (2011) (Numerical data kindly provided Dr. Robert Treharne)

Cite

R E Treharne et al.. Optical Design and Fabrication of Fully Sputtered CdTe/CdS Solar Cells. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 286, 012038 (2011), doi:10.1088/1742-6596/286/1/012038; Data from the refractiveindex.info database (M. N. Polyanskiy, Sci. Data 11, 94 (2024), doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02898-2)

Data

583 rows as published
CdTe (Cadmium telluride), Treharne et al. 2011: n,k 0.3–1.5 µm: n and k versus wavelength
λ (µm)nk
0.301417542.47272971.8938408
0.303013732.50789071.8918883
0.304612.5430931.8881146
0.306206242.57815311.8825357
0.307802552.61289671.8751897
0.309398862.64715651.8661356
0.310995242.6807811.8554502
0.31259162.713631.8432264
0.314188052.7455811.8295703
0.31578452.77652741.8145986
0.317380952.80637861.7984368
0.318977482.83506421.7812153
0.320573972.8625281.7630692
0.322170532.8887341.7441335
0.323767122.91366121.7245436
0.32536372.9373041.7044317
0.326960362.9596731.6839259
0.3285572.98079131.6631484
0.33015373.00069641.6422148
0.33175043.01943611.6212319
0.33334713.03706881.600298
0.334943883.0536631.5795012
0.336540653.06929451.5589191
0.338137453.08404561.538618
0.339734283.09800531.5186529
0.341331123.11126641.4990662
0.342927983.12392541.4798884
0.344524873.1360811.4611356
0.346121773.14783261.4428117
0.347718723.15927931.4249054
0.349315673.17051771.4073921
0.350912663.181641.3902318
0.35250963.19273261.3733703
0.354106633.20387321.356738
0.355703673.21512821.3402531
0.357300723.22655061.32382
0.358897773.23817661.3073328
0.360494843.25002341.2906773
0.362091983.26208781.2737337
0.363689063.27434331.2563814
0.36528623.28674051.2385008
0.366883363.2992061.219981
0.368480533.3116441.2007213
0.37007773.32393811.1806378
0.37167493.33595351.1596669
0.373272133.3475421.137768
0.374869323.35854531.1149279
0.376466583.36880091.0911608
0.378063843.37814661.0665101
0.37966113.38642741.0410482
0.381258363.39349841.0148742
0.382855683.39923260.9881109
0.384452973.40352180.96090436
0.38605033.40628310.93341565
0.387647643.40745930.9058192
0.389244963.40702080.8782972
0.390842353.40496730.8510337
0.39243973.40132620.8242108
0.394037053.39615180.79800326
0.395634463.3895230.77257365
0.397231843.3815410.74807036
0.398829223.37232520.72462296
0.400426643.36201020.7023401
0.402024053.35074190.68130916
0.40362153.3386720.66159374
0.405218933.32595660.64323515
0.406816353.31275060.62625206
0.40841383.29920430.610642
0.410011233.28546170.5963832
0.41160873.27165580.58343655
0.41320623.2579090.5717482
0.414803653.24433110.56125313
0.416401123.23101620.55187577
0.41799863.21804480.5435343
0.41959613.20548250.5361424
0.421193543.1933820.52961254
0.422791083.18178150.52385646
0.424388583.17070750.5187886
0.425986023.16017630.51432645
0.427583563.1501930.5103919
0.429181063.1407560.5069125
0.430778563.1318560.50382155
0.432376073.1234790.5010585
0.433973573.11560560.4985692
0.435571043.10821460.4963056
0.437168553.10128160.49422553
0.438766053.0947810.49229252
0.44036363.08868720.4904752
0.44196113.0829740.48874697
0.44355863.0776160.48708537
0.44515613.07258820.4854718
0.446753573.06786780.48389092
0.448351073.06343130.48233008
0.449948583.05925820.48077932
0.451546053.05532880.4792306
0.453143553.05162450.47767764
0.454741033.0481290.47611567
0.456338533.04482630.47454098
0.457935973.04170230.472951
0.459533453.03874370.47134382
0.461130923.0359390.46971825
0.462728363.03327660.46807352
0.464325843.0307470.4664093
0.465923283.02834060.46472552
0.46752073.02604940.4630225
0.46911813.02386570.46130046
0.470715583.02178220.45955992
0.4723133.01979260.4578015
0.47391043.0178910.4560258
0.475507753.01607180.45423356
0.477105163.01433010.45242533
0.478702553.01266120.45060194
0.48029993.01106070.44876406
0.481897283.00952460.44691232
0.483494633.0080490.44504744
0.485091953.00663070.4431701
0.48668933.00526620.44128087
0.488286623.00395250.43938047
0.489883883.0026870.43746945
0.49148123.00146650.43554837
0.493078463.0002890.4336178
0.494675722.99915170.43167832
0.4962732.99805240.4297304
0.49787022.99698930.4277746
0.499467442.99595980.4258114
0.501064642.99496250.42384124
0.502661872.99399520.42186463
0.504259032.99305650.41988203
0.50585622.99214460.4178939
0.50745332.9912580.41590068
0.509050482.99039480.41390273
0.51064762.9895540.41190055
0.51224472.98873420.40989462
0.513841742.98793390.40788528
0.515438842.98715190.40587297
0.51703592.9863870.40385807
0.518632932.9856380.4018411
0.520229862.98490380.3998225
0.521826842.98418350.39780262
0.52342382.9834760.39578187
0.52502082.98278020.39376077
0.526617742.98209520.39173973
0.52821462.98142030.38971928
0.52981152.98075460.38769972
0.53140832.9800970.38568172
0.53300522.97944710.38366562
0.5346022.97880390.38165194
0.536198852.97816680.37964115
0.537795532.97753520.3776339
0.539392332.97690870.3756305
0.54098912.97628620.3736316
0.542585752.97566750.37163776
0.544182432.9750520.36964944
0.545779052.97443940.36766726
0.54737572.9738290.36569172
0.54897232.97322080.36372337
0.55056892.97261430.36176288
0.55216542.97200920.35981077
0.55376192.97140530.35786763
0.555358462.97080230.35593396
0.55695492.97020030.35401046
0.558551332.9695990.3520976
0.560147772.96899820.35019597
0.561744142.9683980.34830618
0.563340452.96779870.34642875
0.56493682.96720030.34456423
0.56653312.96660260.34271318
0.568129332.9660060.34087607
0.56972562.96541070.33905342
0.57132182.96481680.3372457
0.572917972.96422480.33545336
0.57451412.96363520.33367682
0.57611022.9630480.33191654
0.577706242.96246390.33017287
0.57930232.9618830.3284461
0.58089832.9613060.3267365
0.582494262.96073370.32504454
0.58409022.96016620.32337025
0.585686162.95960430.32171392
0.587282042.95904850.32007563
0.58887782.95849940.31845558
0.590473632.9579580.31685373
0.592069462.95742440.31527013
0.593665162.95690.31370476
0.595260862.95638470.31215748
0.59685652.95587970.3106282
0.598452152.95538540.3091167
0.60004772.95490310.3076228
0.601643252.95443270.30614612
0.60323882.95397570.3046864
0.60483422.95353220.3032432
0.60642962.9531030.30181608
0.6080252.9526890.30040452
0.60962042.95229050.299008
0.61121572.95190830.29762602
0.6128112.95154330.29625782
0.61440622.95119550.2949028
0.61600142.9508660.2935602
0.617596562.95055480.29222932
0.619191652.95026250.29090926
0.620786742.949990.2895993
0.62238172.9497370.2882985
0.62397672.94950440.287006
0.625571662.94929220.28572088
0.627166562.94910050.28444213
0.628761352.948930.2831689
0.63035622.94878050.2819001
0.63195092.94865230.28063482
0.633545652.94854550.27937198
0.63514032.94845960.27811056
0.63673492.94839530.2768496
0.638329472.94835190.27558798
0.6399242.94832940.27432474
0.64151852.9483280.27305883
0.64311292.94834690.27178928
0.644707342.94838620.27051502
0.646301642.94844530.2692351
0.647895942.94852380.26794854
0.64949022.94862150.2666544
0.651084352.94873760.2653517
0.65267852.94887190.2640396
0.65427262.94902320.26271716
0.655866642.94919180.26138356
0.657460632.94937630.260038
0.659054572.94957640.25867963
0.66064852.94979120.25730774
0.66224232.95001980.25592166
0.663836062.95026180.25452062
0.66542982.9505160.253104
0.66702352.95078180.25167128
0.668617072.95105840.25022188
0.67021072.95134450.24875519
0.67180422.95163970.24727085
0.673397642.95194270.24576841
0.67499112.95225260.24424748
0.67658442.95256880.2427077
0.678177732.95289020.2411488
0.679770942.95321560.23957057
0.681364142.95354440.23797277
0.68295732.95387530.23635516
0.684550352.95420770.23471774
0.68614342.95454050.23306037
0.687736272.95487260.2313831
0.68932922.95520330.22968578
0.6909222.95553160.2279686
0.69251482.95585680.22623158
0.694107542.95617750.22447483
0.69570022.95649310.22269851
0.69729282.9568030.22090286
0.69888542.9571060.219088
0.700477842.95740150.21725431
0.70207022.95768860.21540205
0.70366262.95796630.21353145
0.70525492.95823430.21164295
0.70684712.95849160.20973687
0.708439332.95873740.2078136
0.71003142.95897130.20587362
0.71162342.95919250.20391731
0.713215452.95940040.20194511
0.71480732.95959420.19995758
0.716399232.9597740.19795507
0.717990972.95993850.1959383
0.71958272.96008750.19390757
0.72117442.96022060.19186357
0.7227662.96033740.18980676
0.72435752.96043730.18773775
0.72594892.960520.18565705
0.727540342.9605850.18356521
0.729131652.96063230.1814629
0.73072292.96066140.17935058
0.73231412.96067210.17722887
0.73390522.96066430.17509837
0.73549632.96063730.17295964
0.73708732.96059160.17081328
0.738678162.96052650.1686598
0.7402692.96044230.16649987
0.741859742.96033880.16433395
0.74345052.96021580.16216263
0.745041142.96007350.15998651
0.74663172.95991180.15780607
0.748222172.95973090.15562193
0.74981262.95953060.15343454
0.751402952.95931120.15124449
0.75299322.95907280.14905223
0.75458342.95881580.1468583
0.75617352.95854020.14466317
0.757763552.95824650.14246735
0.75935362.95793460.14027123
0.76094352.95760510.13807537
0.762533262.95725870.13588016
0.7641232.95689540.13368596
0.76571272.95651630.1314932
0.76730232.95612140.12930231
0.76889182.9557120.12711363
0.770481262.9552890.12492743
0.77207062.95485280.12274404
0.77365992.95440530.12056359
0.775249152.95394750.118386224
0.776838262.9534810.11621183
0.77842732.9530080.11404028
0.78001632.95253010.111870795
0.781605162.95205070.10970261
0.7831942.95157170.107534096
0.78478282.95109650.10536304
0.78637142.95062850.10318649
0.787959962.95017050.10100016
0.789548462.94972590.09879866
0.791136842.9492970.09657536
0.79272522.94888540.09432188
0.79431352.9484910.09202855
0.79590162.94811250.08968457
0.79748972.94774530.08727787
0.79907772.94738250.08479613
0.800665652.94701390.082227096
0.80225342.94662550.079559766
0.80384122.94620.07678481
0.805428832.94571660.073896036
0.80701642.94515250.07089139
0.80860392.9444820.06777324
0.81019132.943680.06454965
0.81177862.94272140.061234307
0.813365842.94158270.05784648
0.8149532.9402450.054410964
0.816540042.93869330.050956544
0.8181272.9369190.047515552
0.819713872.93491940.04412203
0.821300662.93269920.040810145
0.82288742.93026950.037612926
0.8244742.92764780.034560412
0.826060552.9248570.031678468
0.8276472.92192360.028987786
0.82923332.91887740.02650323
0.83081952.9157490.024233563
0.832405642.91256980.022181546
0.83399182.90936880.020344255
0.835577762.9061740.018714216
0.83716362.90300850.017279591
0.83874942.8998930.016025567
0.84033512.89684410.01493552
0.84192072.89387370.013991448
0.84350622.89099050.013175327
0.84509162.88820030.012469572
0.846676942.88550450.011857492
0.84826222.88290330.011323941
0.84984732.88039470.010855394
0.85143232.8779750.010439994
0.85301732.87563970.010067711
0.85460222.87338380.0097301435
0.85618682.87120220.009420424
0.85777152.86908940.00913297
0.85935612.86704020.008863415
0.860940552.86504980.008608337
0.86252492.86311390.008365112
0.86410912.8612280.008131764
0.865693242.85938860.007906777
0.867277342.85759230.0076890592
0.86886132.85583620.0074778018
0.87044512.85411760.0072724214
0.872028932.85243420.0070724576
0.87361262.85078360.006877601
0.87519612.84916450.006687622
0.87677962.8475750.0065023135
0.87836292.84601350.0063215513
0.879946172.84447860.0061451937
0.88152932.84296940.005973159
0.88311232.84148480.0058053443
0.88469532.84002350.0056416565
0.886278142.8385850.0054820348
0.887860842.8371680.005326393
0.88944352.8357720.0051746555
0.8910262.83439610.0050267484
0.89260842.833040.004882599
0.894190732.83170270.0047421344
0.895772952.83038380.004605282
0.89735512.82908270.0044719707
0.8989372.8277990.0043421364
0.90051892.82653210.004215692
0.90210072.82528160.004092584
0.90368232.8240470.003972733
0.9052642.8228280.0038560631
0.90684542.82162430.0037425202
0.908426762.8204350.0036320286
0.910007932.81926060.003524528
0.911589052.81810.0034199376
0.91317012.81695320.0033181992
0.9147512.815820.0032192532
0.91633172.81470.0031230294
0.91791252.81359270.0030294587
0.919493042.8124980.0029384901
0.921073552.8114160.0028500564
0.92265382.81034610.002764102
0.92423412.8092880.0026805568
0.925814152.80824160.0025993725
0.92739422.80720640.0025204811
0.92897412.80618260.0024438358
0.93055392.80516980.002369376
0.93213352.8041680.0022970508
0.93371312.80317660.0022267979
0.93529252.80219580.0021585734
0.93687192.8012250.0020923165
0.938451052.80026460.002027985
0.94003012.79931380.0019655286
0.94160912.7983730.0019048908
0.9431882.79744150.0018460276
0.94476672.79651950.0017888958
0.946345342.79560690.0017334458
0.94792382.79470320.0016796328
0.949502142.79380850.0016274158
0.951080442.79292270.0015767456
0.952658572.79204560.0015275864
0.954236632.79117680.0014798938
0.95581462.79031660.0014336278
0.95739232.78946470.0013887518
0.95896992.7886210.0013452246
0.96054752.78778530.0013030086
0.96212492.78695730.0012620675
0.96370232.7861370.0012223654
0.96527942.78532480.0011838699
0.966856452.784520.0011465445
0.96843342.78372260.001110356
0.970010132.78293250.0010752741
0.97158682.78214980.0010412651
0.97316342.7813740.0010082982
0.974739872.78060530.0009763434
0.97631612.77984360.0009453734
0.97789232.77908870.0009153577
0.97946842.77834060.0008862685
0.98104432.7775990.0008580788
0.98262012.7768640.000830764
0.98419582.77613570.0008042966
0.985771362.77541350.0007786517
0.98734682.77469750.0007538066
0.988922062.7739880.0007297359
0.990497252.77328440.0007064167
0.992072272.77258680.000683828
0.993647162.77189540.0006619465
0.9952222.77120950.0006407511
0.99679672.77052970.0006202211
0.99837122.76985550.0006003378
0.99994552.7691870.0005810816
1.011692752.7643680.0004553209
1.0151122.7630190.0004240422
1.018531252.7616930.0003948844
1.02195052.76038930.0003677081
1.02536982.75910760.0003423824
1.0287892.7578470.0003187844
1.03220832.7566070.0002967992
1.03562742.75538730.0002763191
1.03904662.7541870.0002572432
1.0424662.75300620.0002394772
1.04588532.75184370.0002229323
1.04930442.75069950.0002075268
1.05272382.74957320.0001931833
1.05614312.7484640.000179829
1.05956232.7473720.0001673974
1.06298172.74629620.0001558249
1.0664012.74523660.0001450531
1.06982032.74419260.0001350271
1.07323962.7431640.0001256957
1.07665892.74215050.0001170112
1.08007842.74115160.0001089288
1.08349782.7401670.0001014072
1.08691722.73919639.440767e-05
1.09033682.73823958.7894e-05
1.09375622.73729598.1832855e-05
1.09717582.73636567.619256e-05
1.10059552.7354487.0944e-05
1.1040152.73454266.606e-05
1.10743472.73364976.151526e-05
1.11085422.73276885.7286252e-05
1.1142742.73189975.3350854e-05
1.11769372.7310424.9688744e-05
1.12111352.73019554.6280777e-05
1.12453342.729364.3109343e-05
1.12795342.72853544.015787e-05
1.13137332.72772153.7411093e-05
1.13479322.72691773.4854664e-05
1.13821332.72612433.247537e-05
1.14163342.72534083.0260797e-05
1.14505352.7245672.8199502e-05
1.14847382.72380282.6280737e-05
1.1518942.7230482.4494562e-05
1.15531432.72230242.2831773e-05
1.15873472.72156572.128372e-05
1.16215522.7208381.9842444e-05
1.16557572.7201191.8500457e-05
1.16899632.71940851.7250846e-05
1.17241692.71870661.6087204e-05
1.17583762.71801261.5003515e-05
1.17925842.71732691.3994212e-05
1.18267932.7166491.3054123e-05
1.18610022.71597891.217846e-05
1.18952122.71531651.1362719e-05
1.19294232.71466161.0602742e-05
1.19636352.7140149.894657e-06
1.19978482.7133749.2348655e-06
1.2032062.7127418.62e-06
1.20662762.71211468.047e-06
1.21004912.71149547.513e-06
1.21347062.7108837.015173e-06
1.21689232.71027736.5511117e-06
1.22031412.7096786.1184655e-06
1.2237362.70908525.7150687e-06
1.2271582.70849875.338907e-06
1.230582.70791844.9881064e-06
1.23400222.70734434.6609243e-06
1.23742442.70677644.3557384e-06
1.24084682.70621424.071e-06
1.24426932.70565773.8054263e-06
1.24769182.70510723.5575908e-06
1.25111452.70456243.3263186e-06
1.25453742.70402313.1104728e-06
1.25796022.7034892.909e-06
1.26138322.70296072.721e-06
1.26480642.70243762.5453767e-06
1.26822962.70191962.3814453e-06
1.2716532.70140672.2283657e-06
1.27507642.70089912.0854031e-06
1.27852.70039651.9518695e-06
1.28192372.69989871.8271314e-06
1.28534752.69940571.7105958e-06
1.28877152.69891761.6017099e-06
1.29219562.6984341.5e-06
1.29561992.69795541.4048591e-06
1.29904422.69748121.316e-06
1.30246862.69701121.2328759e-06
1.30589332.6965461.1551848e-06
1.30931812.6960851.0825419e-06
1.31274292.69562841.0146065e-06
1.3161682.69517619.510673e-07
1.31959312.6947288.9163063e-07
1.32301842.6942848.36e-07
1.3264442.69384387.84e-07
1.32986952.6934087.353122e-07
1.33329532.6929766.897461e-07
1.33672122.6925486.470956e-07
1.34014722.69212376.071678e-07
1.34357352.69170335.6978394e-07
1.34699992.69128665.3477834e-07
1.35042642.69087365.02e-07
1.3538532.69046434.7128876e-07
1.35727992.69005874.4252332e-07
1.36070682.68965654.1557345e-07
1.3641342.68925793.9031977e-07
1.36756132.68886263.6665432e-07
1.37098892.68847083.444723e-07
1.37441652.68808253.2367913e-07
1.37784442.68769743.0418462e-07
1.38127232.68731552.8590523e-07
1.38470042.68693692.687633e-07
1.38812892.68656162.52685e-07
1.39155742.68618942.3760309e-07
1.39498612.68582032.2345348e-07
1.39841492.68545442.1017712e-07
1.4018442.68509131.9771767e-07
1.40527322.68473121.86e-07
1.40870282.68437431.75e-07
1.41213232.68402031.6474127e-07
1.41556212.6836691.5506488e-07
1.41899212.68332081.46e-07
1.42242222.6829751.374432e-07
1.42585272.68263241.2942616e-07
1.42928322.68229251.218943e-07
1.43271412.6819551.1481712e-07
1.4361452.68162061.0816659e-07
1.43957622.68128851.0191596e-07
1.44300762.68095929.6e-08
1.44643912.68063269.0516515e-08
1.44987082.68030838.532251e-08
1.45330292.67998678.043824e-08
1.45673512.67966777.584435e-08
1.46016752.6793517.152308e-08
1.46360012.67903696.74577e-08
1.4670332.6787256.363252e-08
1.4704662.67841556e-08
1.47389922.67810855.664482e-08
1.47733282.67780385.3455647e-08
1.48076642.67750125.045324e-08
1.48420032.6772014.7626266e-08
1.48763452.67690324.5e-08
1.49106882.67660744.245666e-08
1.49450342.67631394.009481e-08
1.49793822.67602253.786968e-08

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
—