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Wide-spectral-range laser refractometer.
Simeon Sainov1, Yanko Sarov, Stoyan Kurtev
1Central Laboratory of Optical Storage and Processing of Information, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 101 Akad. G. Bonchev Str. P.O. Box 95, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria.
Applied Optics
|May 10, 2003
Summary
This study details refractometric measurements using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser across a wide spectral range. Researchers determined the critical angle by observing diffraction order disappearance with a fused-silica prism and metal grating microcuvette.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Refractometry is crucial for material characterization.
- Pulsed lasers offer unique advantages for optical measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present refractometric measurements in the 266-1064 nm spectral region.
- To determine the critical angle using a novel microcuvette setup.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a pulsed Nd:YAG laser and its harmonics (266, 355, 532, 1064 nm).
- Employing a fused-silica prism with a metal grating to form a microcuvette.
- Measuring the critical angle via the disappearance of diffraction orders.
Main Results:
- Successful refractometric measurements were achieved across the specified spectral range.
- The critical angle was accurately determined using the diffraction-based method.
- The fused-silica prism and metal grating microcuvette proved effective for these measurements.
Conclusions:
- The presented method enables precise refractometric measurements using pulsed laser sources.
- This technique is valuable for characterizing materials with optical prisms.
- Further applications in optical sensing and material analysis are suggested.