All Questions
25
questions
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59
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What formalism is used to model thin film optical coatings that function across a range of angles of incident light?
Thin film optical coatings [0] are atomically/molecularly thin layers of material applied to a substrate with the intent of affecting the optical properties of the substrate. For example, magnesium ...
- 21
2
votes
0
answers
149
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What can be the possible causes for variation in stress-induced birefringence in an isotropic material?
Birefringence is the phenomenon of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. When an unpolarized light passes through such a material, ...
- 21
3
votes
5
answers
491
views
Variations in Refractive Index of Materials
It's quite a common fact that different types of glass have different refractive indices. Most sites I've found attribute these differences to variations in the 'density' of the glass, which is not ...
- 1,538
0
votes
2
answers
354
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How do anti-reflection coatings in solar cells make light stay inside a solar cell?
We know that silicon is too shiny to absorb incoming light that's why anti-reflection coating is needed to make the incoming light stay inside the cell.
However, the problem is, even though the cell ...
0
votes
0
answers
51
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Transparency of oil paints with the passage of time
I know that oil paints become transparent after the passage of time (as in the case of many of the Old Masters), because air oxidizes oil, raising its refractive index, so that scattering of light ...
1
vote
0
answers
139
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Why is Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) transparent to visible light and have low transmission to infrared light?
I read that Indium Tin Oxide transmits most of visible light while blocking a high percentage of infrared light.
What is the principle behind this property?
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
628
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Can titanium dioxide ($\rm TiO_2$) be used to block IR?
I know that titanium oxide ($\rm TiO_2$) is mostly used to block UV lights, but can it be used for the blocking of near-infrared light?
If yes, then what are the principles behind it?
I would ...
- 21
0
votes
2
answers
915
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Which naturally occuring solid material has the lowest refractive index?
I am looking for the material with the lowest possible refractive index. Googling did not help much, the best I found is this article suggesting that n can be as low as 1.39, but not giving any ...
- 310
1
vote
1
answer
142
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Are there optical materials with larger mean deviation with little to zero angular dispersion?
The following statement is from Concepts of Physics by Dr. H.C.Verma, from the chapter "Dispersion and Spectra", page 434, topic "Dispersive Power":
The mean deviation depends on ...
- 5,306
5
votes
1
answer
147
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Difference between permittivities $\varepsilon_\text{opt}$ and $\varepsilon_\infty$?
Very often, in materials physics, we are interested in the relative permittivity at optical frequencies which is usually denoted by $\varepsilon_\text{opt}$ or $\varepsilon_\infty$.
But I'm confused ...
- 61
1
vote
1
answer
35
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Dielectric properties of polarizing beam splitter
Are all polarizing beam splitters made up of dielectric materials?If so, what kind of dielectric materials are actually used to make them?
1
vote
1
answer
100
views
What is a Material Called that Translates the Image of a Touching Object's Surface?
What is the name of a material that moves light through it in such a way that it appears that the surface of an object has translated through the material? Also, what is an example of this type of ...
- 111
5
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why can't ultraviolet light pass through glass?
What factor determine whether a body behaves like a transparent object for EM waves of a particular frequency?
- 51
1
vote
1
answer
121
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Is it possible to have an optical version of a greenhouse? With optical fibers?
Optical fibers transport light within them using internal reflection, but the light only enters from one end of the fiber. Is it possible to somehow have light entering from the sides of the fiber (...
- 325
4
votes
1
answer
300
views
Is there a material that allows light to pass perpendicular to the surface, but reflects at an angle?
This is inspired by Michael Steven's new video about optics.
He shows off Selenite, which has the property that light entering on one side travels perpendicularly down the crystal until it exits the ...
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