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glossary

Refractive index

The refractive index, also called index of refraction, is an important measure in geometrical optics. It indicates the extent to which a light beam is refracted and reflected when passing from one medium to another. It is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to the speed of light in the respective medium. The refractive index is independent of wavelength, thus the spectral analysis of light is possible.

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