The performance of a refractometer for operation in the DELPHI Ring Im
aging Cherenkov detectors for operation in the far UV region is presen
ted. Comparisons are made with performance in standard laboratory cond
itions. Data on absolute refractivities are given for reference sample
s of air, argon, Freon 12 as well as on gaseous C4F10 from the Forward
RICH detector of DELPHI. The accuracy of the determination of the n-1
using this refractometer at the 253.7 nm is estimated about 1% for C4
F10.