Refractive index dispersion measurement on nonlinear optical polymer usingV-prism refractometer

By using V-prism refractometer, the refractive indices of a polyetherketone (PEK-c) guest-host polymer system were measured with the polymer in soluti ons. The Lorenz-Lorentz local field formalism was used in the calculation o f the refractive indices of the polymers from the measured indices of the p olymer solutions and the pure solvent by using V-prism refractometer. The r efractive index dispersions of the polymers were obtained by fitting the me asured indices of the polymers to Sellmeyer equation. The method allows for an accuracy in index of 0.7% in the determination of the polymer indices. In addition, a large difference between the indices of the polymer and the solvent, and a higher polymer volume fraction in the measured polymer solut ion are favorable for a high accuracy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.