Relating absorbance wavelengths and refractive index

AI Thread Summary
It is possible to relate absorbance wavelengths to refractive index values, treating absorption as an imaginary component of the refractive index. The real component can be calculated using Kramers-Kronig relations if the absorption coefficient is known. The Sellmeier equation, while useful for determining the real part of the refractive index, requires experimentally determined coefficients and does not directly address the question of translating absorbance into refractive index. Therefore, while there are methods to relate these properties, they depend on specific measurements and transformations. Understanding these relationships can aid in further exploration of optical properties in biological contexts.
kajendiran56
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Dear All,
thank you for your attention. I am a Biologist and I was wondering if it is possible to translate absorbance λ values into a refractive index value? I found out about the sellmeier equation however it appears to require coefficients that have to be experimentally determined.

Is there a way around using these coefficients? I just need to know if it is possible or not and pointed in the right direction.
Thank you for your time.
 
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Absorption can be treated as an imaginary component of the refractive index, n = n' + in'', where n' is the real component and is used in, for example, Snell's law. If you have n''(λ), the absorption, you can calculate the real component via Kramers-Kronig relations (the real part is the Hilbert transform of the imaginary part and vice-versa), but the details will depend on the units associated with your absorption measurement.

The Sellmeier equation is an empirical dispersion relation for the real part of the refractive index, and is unrelated to your question.
 

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