refractive index
nounDefinition 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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An electro-optic modulator takes in a microwave signal, which changes the refractive index of a bit of glass. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Careful phasing of a photonic qubit brings light under control," 8 Feb. 2018 Blue light has to work harder to shift the electrons (the refractive index is larger). — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Spinning glass ball rejects light from one direction," 27 June 2018 The electrons respond as if the light were redder (the refractive index decreases). — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Spinning glass ball rejects light from one direction," 27 June 2018 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. 2018These 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.
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