refractiveindex 1.0.0

A python interface to the refractiveindex.info database.

Easy Python interface to RefractiveIndex database

The original database
https://github.com/polyanskiy/refractiveindex.info-database

Installation

pip install refractiveindex

Usage

import numpy as np
from refractiveindex import RefractiveIndexMaterial

# Tabulated nk material
SiO = RefractiveIndexMaterial(shelf='main', book='SiO', page='Hass')

wavelength_nm = 600  # [nm]

SiO.get_refractive_index(wavelength_nm)
# 1.96553846

SiO.get_extinction_coefficient(wavelength_nm)
# 0.001

SiO.get_epsilon(wavelength_nm)
# (3.8633404437869827+0.003931076923076923j)

# Formula-based material
bk7 = RefractiveIndexMaterial(shelf='specs', book='SCHOTT-optical', page='N-BK7')
bk7.get_refractive_index(589.3)
# 1.5168...

# Array input
wavelengths = np.array([400, 500, 600, 700])
SiO.get_refractive_index(wavelengths)
# array([1.9892, 1.9728, 1.9655, 1.9617])

Notes:

• Here the time dependence is assumed to be $\mathrm{e}^{-\mathrm{i} \omega t}$, so $\mathrm{Im}(\varepsilon) > 0$ is responsible for the losses.
• If there is a space in the name, write underscore instead, i.e. not page='Rodriguez-de Marcos' but page='Rodriguez-de_Marcos'.
• All 9 dispersion formula types used by the refractiveindex.info database are supported: Sellmeier (1), Sellmeier-2 (2), Polynomial (3), RefractiveIndex.INFO (4), Cauchy (5), Gases (6), Herzberger (7), Retro (8), and Exotic (9).
• The database is automatically downloaded on first use to ~/.refractiveindex.info-database.

How to get material page names

You can find the proper "page" name by hovering your cursor on the link in the Data section

Or you can look up folders in this repository
https://github.com/polyanskiy/refractiveindex.info-database

Similar projects

• PyTMM by Pavel Dmitriev — the original database parsing code this project was based on
• RefractiveIndex.jl — Julia interface to refractiveindex.info database

Possible problems

If the upstream database has changed its structure, upgrade the package

pip install --upgrade refractiveindex

and remove the database folder at ~/.refractiveindex.info-database.