Abstract

Background: The optical constants of a glass material are very useful for determining its radiative properties, as well as for selecting the appropriate thin-film coatings on a glass substrate.

Objective: The objective of this study is to calculate the real part (n) and the imaginary part (k) of the complex refractive index of a clear glass material using a simple method based on the reflectivity and transmissivity measurements.

Methods: In this study, the parts n and k are derived from the equations of the reflectivity at near zero incidence and transmissivity at normal incidence by using Shimadzu IR-70 Spectrophotometer and Cary 5E Spectrophotometer apparatuses.

Results: Current and future developments of the patents on Optical Constant of a Clear Glass Material are finally provided to calculate the real and imaginary parts of a clear glass material in the ultraviolet through the near infrared range based on reflectivity and transmissivity measurements at near zero and normal incidence, respectively.

The real and the imaginary parts of the complex refractive index of the glass sample obtained in the present study are in very good agreement with Rubin’s data. Although, a direct comparison between different samples is not possible, due to the difference in manufacturing process and material composition.

Keywords: Complex refractive index, glass material, imaginary part, optical constants, real part, spectrophotometer.