Optical constants

Refractive index of (C₂H₆OSi)_n (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS)

Schneider et al. 2009: RTV 615; n 0.35–0.70 µm

Data: formula 2
Range: 0.35–0.7 µm
Licence: CC0-1.0

Axis Log x Log y

Click the plot to set the calculator wavelength.

At one wavelength

Refractive index n: 1.43029
Extinction coefficient k: 0

Permittivity ε₁: 2.04573
Permittivity ε₂: 0

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

Abbe number V_d: 44.436
Chromatic dispersion dn/dλ: -0.0495261 µm⁻¹

Group index n_g: 1.45939
Group velocity dispersion: 95.0494 fs²/mm

Dispersion parameter D: -518.545 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

# (C2H6OSi)n (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS): Schneider et al. 2009: RTV 615; n 0.35–0.70 µm
mat = ls.fetch_refractiveindex("organic", "polydimethylsiloxane", "Schneider-RTV615", ref="c5c2f188e848453def5970e347399d653df2ffc2")
print(mat.range_nm)  # (350, 700) nm
eps = mat.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_9a661efd04c2/lightsmith"
mat = ls.Tabulated.model_validate(json.load(urllib.request.urlopen(url)))
print(mat.source)  # citation and provenance travel with the data

Any dataset here, as the library's Tabulated material (polydimethylsiloxane/schneider-2009-rtv615).

# ... load mat as above, then:
sim = ls.Simulation(
    particles=[ls.Particle(shape=ls.Sphere(radius_nm=50), material=mat)],
    medium_index=1.0,
    wavelengths=ls.WavelengthRange(start_nm=400, stop_nm=700, 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_9a661efd04c2/lightsmith?model=drude_lorentz"
mat_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 = \frac{1.0057 λ^{2}}{λ^{2} - 0.013217}

Valid from 0.35 to 0.7 µm.

Coefficients as stored

C_i	Value
C1	0.0
C2	1.0057
C3	0.013217

Comments and conditions

RTV 615 (Bayer Silicones, now Momentive)

References

F. Schneider, J. Draheim, R. Kamberger, U. Wallrabe. Process and material properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for Optical MEMS. Sens. Actuators A Phys. 151, 95-99 (2009)

doi:10.1016/j.sna.2009.01.026 Process and material properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for Optical MEMS, Sensors and Actuators A: Physical (2009)

Cite

Florian Schneider, Jan Draheim, Robert Kamberger and Ulrike Wallrabe. Process and material properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for Optical MEMS. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 151, 95-99 (2009), doi:10.1016/j.sna.2009.01.026; 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

(C2H6OSi)n (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS), Schneider et al. 2009: RTV 615; n 0.35–0.70 µm: n and k versus wavelength
λ (µm)	n
0.35	1.458538
0.350609	1.458376
0.351218	1.458214
0.351829	1.458054
0.352441	1.457894
0.353053	1.457734
0.353667	1.457576
0.354282	1.457417
0.354898	1.45726
0.355515	1.457103
0.356133	1.456947
0.356753	1.456792
0.357373	1.456637
0.357994	1.456483
0.358617	1.45633
0.35924	1.456177
0.359865	1.456025
0.360491	1.455873
0.361117	1.455722
0.361745	1.455572
0.362374	1.455422
0.363004	1.455273
0.363635	1.455125
0.364268	1.454977
0.364901	1.454829
0.365536	1.454683
0.366171	1.454537
0.366808	1.454391
0.367446	1.454247
0.368084	1.454102
0.368724	1.453959
0.369366	1.453816
0.370008	1.453673
0.370651	1.453531
0.371296	1.45339
0.371941	1.453249
0.372588	1.453109
0.373236	1.45297
0.373885	1.452831
0.374535	1.452692
0.375186	1.452555
0.375838	1.452417
0.376492	1.452281
0.377146	1.452144
0.377802	1.452009
0.378459	1.451874
0.379117	1.451739
0.379776	1.451605
0.380437	1.451472
0.381098	1.451339
0.381761	1.451207
0.382424	1.451075
0.383089	1.450944
0.383755	1.450813
0.384423	1.450683
0.385091	1.450553
0.385761	1.450424
0.386431	1.450296
0.387103	1.450167
0.387776	1.45004
0.388451	1.449913
0.389126	1.449786
0.389803	1.44966
0.39048	1.449535
0.391159	1.44941
0.391839	1.449285
0.392521	1.449161
0.393203	1.449038
0.393887	1.448915
0.394572	1.448792
0.395258	1.44867
0.395945	1.448549
0.396633	1.448428
0.397323	1.448307
0.398014	1.448187
0.398706	1.448068
0.399399	1.447949
0.400094	1.44783
0.400789	1.447712
0.401486	1.447594
0.402184	1.447477
0.402883	1.44736
0.403584	1.447244
0.404286	1.447128
0.404989	1.447013
0.405693	1.446898
0.406398	1.446784
0.407105	1.44667
0.407813	1.446556
0.408522	1.446443
0.409232	1.44633
0.409944	1.446218
0.410656	1.446107
0.41137	1.445995
0.412086	1.445885
0.412802	1.445774
0.41352	1.445664
0.414239	1.445555
0.414959	1.445446
0.415681	1.445337
0.416403	1.445229
0.417127	1.445121
0.417853	1.445014
0.418579	1.444907
0.419307	1.4448
0.420036	1.444694
0.420766	1.444589
0.421498	1.444483
0.422231	1.444379
0.422965	1.444274
0.4237	1.44417
0.424437	1.444067
0.425175	1.443963
0.425914	1.443861
0.426655	1.443758
0.427397	1.443656
0.42814	1.443555
0.428884	1.443454
0.42963	1.443353
0.430377	1.443252
0.431125	1.443153
0.431875	1.443053
0.432626	1.442954
0.433378	1.442855
0.434131	1.442757
0.434886	1.442659
0.435642	1.442561
0.4364	1.442464
0.437159	1.442367
0.437919	1.44227
0.43868	1.442174
0.439443	1.442078
0.440207	1.441983
0.440972	1.441888
0.441739	1.441793
0.442507	1.441699
0.443277	1.441605
0.444047	1.441512
0.444819	1.441419
0.445593	1.441326
0.446368	1.441233
0.447144	1.441141
0.447921	1.44105
0.4487	1.440958
0.44948	1.440867
0.450262	1.440777
0.451044	1.440686
0.451829	1.440596
0.452614	1.440507
0.453401	1.440418
0.45419	1.440329
0.454979	1.44024
0.45577	1.440152
0.456563	1.440064
0.457357	1.439977
0.458152	1.439889
0.458949	1.439803
0.459747	1.439716
0.460546	1.43963
0.461347	1.439544
0.462149	1.439459
0.462952	1.439373
0.463757	1.439288
0.464564	1.439204
0.465371	1.43912
0.466181	1.439036
0.466991	1.438952
0.467803	1.438869
0.468616	1.438786
0.469431	1.438704
0.470247	1.438621
0.471065	1.438539
0.471884	1.438458
0.472705	1.438376
0.473526	1.438295
0.47435	1.438215
0.475175	1.438134
0.476001	1.438054
0.476828	1.437975
0.477657	1.437895
0.478488	1.437816
0.47932	1.437737
0.480153	1.437658
0.480988	1.43758
0.481825	1.437502
0.482662	1.437425
0.483501	1.437347
0.484342	1.43727
0.485184	1.437193
0.486028	1.437117
0.486873	1.437041
0.48772	1.436965
0.488568	1.436889
0.489417	1.436814
0.490268	1.436739
0.49112	1.436664
0.491974	1.43659
0.49283	1.436516
0.493687	1.436442
0.494545	1.436368
0.495405	1.436295
0.496266	1.436222
0.497129	1.436149
0.497993	1.436077
0.498859	1.436004
0.499727	1.435932
0.500596	1.435861
0.501466	1.435789
0.502338	1.435718
0.503211	1.435647
0.504086	1.435577
0.504963	1.435507
0.505841	1.435437
0.50672	1.435367
0.507601	1.435297
0.508484	1.435228
0.509368	1.435159
0.510254	1.43509
0.511141	1.435022
0.51203	1.434954
0.51292	1.434886
0.513812	1.434818
0.514705	1.434751
0.5156	1.434683
0.516496	1.434617
0.517394	1.43455
0.518294	1.434483
0.519195	1.434417
0.520098	1.434351
0.521002	1.434286
0.521908	1.43422
0.522816	1.434155
0.523725	1.43409
0.524635	1.434026
0.525547	1.433961
0.526461	1.433897
0.527377	1.433833
0.528294	1.433769
0.529212	1.433706
0.530132	1.433643
0.531054	1.43358
0.531977	1.433517
0.532902	1.433454
0.533829	1.433392
0.534757	1.43333
0.535687	1.433268
0.536618	1.433207
0.537551	1.433145
0.538486	1.433084
0.539422	1.433023
0.54036	1.432963
0.5413	1.432902
0.542241	1.432842
0.543184	1.432782
0.544128	1.432722
0.545074	1.432663
0.546022	1.432603
0.546971	1.432544
0.547922	1.432485
0.548875	1.432427
0.549829	1.432368
0.550785	1.43231
0.551743	1.432252
0.552702	1.432194
0.553663	1.432137
0.554626	1.432079
0.55559	1.432022
0.556556	1.431965
0.557524	1.431909
0.558493	1.431852
0.559465	1.431796
0.560437	1.43174
0.561412	1.431684
0.562388	1.431628
0.563366	1.431573
0.564345	1.431518
0.565326	1.431463
0.566309	1.431408
0.567294	1.431353
0.56828	1.431299
0.569269	1.431245
0.570258	1.431191
0.57125	1.431137
0.572243	1.431083
0.573238	1.43103
0.574235	1.430977
0.575233	1.430924
0.576233	1.430871
0.577235	1.430818
0.578239	1.430766
0.579244	1.430714
0.580251	1.430662
0.58126	1.43061
0.582271	1.430558
0.583283	1.430507
0.584298	1.430455
0.585314	1.430404
0.586331	1.430353
0.587351	1.430303
0.588372	1.430252
0.589395	1.430202
0.59042	1.430152
0.591446	1.430102
0.592475	1.430052
0.593505	1.430002
0.594537	1.429953
0.59557	1.429904
0.596606	1.429855
0.597643	1.429806
0.598682	1.429757
0.599723	1.429709
0.600766	1.42966
0.601811	1.429612
0.602857	1.429564
0.603905	1.429517
0.604955	1.429469
0.606007	1.429422
0.607061	1.429374
0.608116	1.429327
0.609174	1.42928
0.610233	1.429234
0.611294	1.429187
0.612357	1.429141
0.613421	1.429094
0.614488	1.429048
0.615556	1.429003
0.616627	1.428957
0.617699	1.428911
0.618773	1.428866
0.619849	1.428821
0.620927	1.428776
0.622006	1.428731
0.623088	1.428686
0.624171	1.428642
0.625256	1.428597
0.626343	1.428553
0.627432	1.428509
0.628523	1.428465
0.629616	1.428421
0.630711	1.428378
0.631808	1.428334
0.632906	1.428291
0.634007	1.428248
0.635109	1.428205
0.636213	1.428162
0.637319	1.42812
0.638428	1.428077
0.639538	1.428035
0.64065	1.427993
0.641763	1.427951
0.642879	1.427909
0.643997	1.427867
0.645117	1.427826
0.646238	1.427785
0.647362	1.427743
0.648488	1.427702
0.649615	1.427661
0.650745	1.427621
0.651876	1.42758
0.65301	1.427539
0.654145	1.427499
0.655282	1.427459
0.656422	1.427419
0.657563	1.427379
0.658706	1.427339
0.659852	1.4273
0.660999	1.42726
0.662148	1.427221
0.6633	1.427182
0.664453	1.427143
0.665608	1.427104
0.666766	1.427065
0.667925	1.427027
0.669086	1.426988
0.67025	1.42695
0.671415	1.426912
0.672582	1.426874
0.673752	1.426836
0.674923	1.426798
0.676097	1.42676
0.677272	1.426723
0.67845	1.426686
0.679629	1.426648
0.680811	1.426611
0.681995	1.426574
0.683181	1.426538
0.684369	1.426501
0.685558	1.426464
0.68675	1.426428
0.687945	1.426392
0.689141	1.426356
0.690339	1.42632
0.691539	1.426284
0.692742	1.426248
0.693946	1.426212
0.695153	1.426177
0.696361	1.426141
0.697572	1.426106
0.698785	1.426071
0.7	1.426036

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: —

(C₂H₆OSi)_n (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS): all datasets

About (C2H6OSi)n (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS)

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, (C₂H₆OSi)_n) is a widely utilized silicon-based organic polymer known for its unique rheological properties. Characterized by its clear, viscous appearance, PDMS is optically transparent, rendering it particularly suitable for various optical applications. This elastomer exhibits a range of beneficial attributes: it's non-toxic, chemically inert, non-flammable, and resistant to ultraviolet radiation and ozone. Additionally, it is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water, and possesses excellent dielectric properties over a broad frequency range. These characteristics make PDMS an ideal choice for a multitude of applications, ranging from household products like shampoos and caulking to medical devices and microfluidic chips. In the realm of optics, the material's transparency across a broad spectrum combined with its flexibility has led to its use in soft lithography processes, waveguides, and even in the fabrication of flexible optical devices. The refractive properties of PDMS derive from its siloxane backbone, which imparts the material with its distinct optical and mechanical characteristics.

Polydimethylsiloxane - Wikipedia

More about (C2H6OSi)n (Polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) →

Provenance

Version: 1 (snapshot c5c2f18)
Source page: refractiveindex.info
Original file: database/data/organic/(C2H6OSi)n - polydimethylsiloxane/nk/Schneider-RTV615.yml
ID: ds_9a661efd04c2
API: /v1/datasets/ds_9a661efd04c2

Plot