Measurement of refractive index dispersion of a fused silica plate using Fabry-Perot interference

We used Fabry-Perot interferometry to measure the refractive indices of a fused silica plate at four different wavelengths ranging from 544 to 1550 nm, giving a detailed analysis on the uncertainty of this experimental method. Because of a small expanded uncertainty of 2.7×10^-5(k=1.96) obtained using the experimental method, it was possible to make corrections to the existing Sellmeier formula [J. Opt. Soc. Am.55, 1205 (1965)JOSAAH0030-394110.1364/JOSA.55.001205] for our fused silica sample. The corrected Sellmeier formula resulted in a group index value larger than that evaluated using the Malitson's Sellmeier formula by 3×10^-4. We verified this by comparing it with the group index measured with spectral domain interferometry at 1530 nm.