refractive index

noun

|Updated on: 25 Jun 2018

Definition of refractive index

: the ratio of the speed of radiation (such as light) in one medium (such as air, glass, or a vacuum) to that in another medium

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Recent Examples of refractive index from the Web

Instead, the authors look into partly reflective materials that have a high refractive index and low absorption.

— john timmer, Ars Technica, "The material science of building a light sail to take us to Alpha Centauri," 7 May 2018
As light passes through the glass, its frequency is changed by the periodic changes in refractive index.

— chris lee, Ars Technica, "Careful phasing of a photonic qubit brings light under control," 8 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'refractive index.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.