absolute refractive index

1 definition found

absolute refractive index - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Refractive \Re*fract"ive\ (r?*fr?kt"?v), a. [Cf. F.
     r['e]fractif. See Refract.]
     Serving or having power to refract, or turn from a direct
     course; pertaining to refraction; as, refractive surfaces;
     refractive powers.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Refractive index. (Opt.) See Index of refraction, under
        Index.
  
     Absolute refractive index (Opt.), the index of refraction
        of a substances when the ray passes into it from a vacuum.
        
  
     Relative refractive index (of two media) (Opt.), the ratio
        of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the
        angle of refraction for a ray passing out of one of the
        media into the other.
        [1913 Webster]