Influence factors and adjusting method of refractive indices of solid media

Abstract

It is of great significance to explore changing behavior and adjustment method of the refractive index. Expression of the refractive index, which was derived from the electron-cloud conductor model, contains the equivalent volume V of the electron clouds and the molecular density [Formula: see text]. The expression shows that the refractive index increases with V and [Formula: see text]. Based on this expression, main factors influencing the refractive index of solid medium are analyzed and summarized: the Nephelauxetic Effect, number of bonding electrons in the molecule, chemical bond property, number of nonbonding electrons in outermost layer of the molecule, and molecular density of the medium (electromagnetic wave factor is not considered). The relationship between the refractive index and the Nephelauxetic Effect is established. The calculations show that the Nephelauxetic Effect helps to increase the refractive index. Some viewpoints related to the Nephelauxetic Effect are supplemented. Characteristics of the solid medium that has a high refractive index are proposed: (1) Covalent bond component is high, and number of covalent bonds in one molecule is large. (2) Periodic number is as large as possible without increasing the ionic bond component. (3) Molecular density is high. According to these characteristics, method of adjusting the refractive index is discussed, and the results are consistent with the real situations.