Why some materials have bigger refractive index than others?

[Physicsissuef]

why some materials have bigger refractive index than others? Let's say why air have 1.003 refractive index, and quartz glass 1.46?

 

[John Creighto]

why some materials have bigger refractive index than others? Let's say why air have 1.003 refractive index, and quartz glass 1.46?

The refractive index depends upon the dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index

 

[Physicsissuef]

The refractive index depends upon the dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refractive_index

Ok, I understand something. But is it actually the atoms and molecules and their bonds?

 

[pam]

The permittivity depends on how easy it is for an electric field to polarize the molecules.

 

[Claude Bile]

Ok, I understand something. But is it actually the atoms and molecules and their bonds?

Yes. In optical media, the refractive index depends almost exclusively on the electric permittivity of the medium, which in turn depends on the characteristics of the atomic and molecular bonds within the medium.

Claude.