Far-infrared laser measurement of the refractive index of polypropylene.
The refractive index of polypropylene in the far infrared (FIR) is measured by means of a suitably modified laser of a FIR spectrometer. When thin polypropylene films of 12.7-microm nominal thickness are introduced in the optical cavity of a laser at the Brewster angle, the radiation ceases because of the change in the optical path of the laser beam. This change is measured from the displacement of one of the laser mirrors, which is necessary to restore the laser resonance. The refractive index of polypropylene is deduced from this measurement and from the film thickness, as obtained from an independent measurement based in pycnometry. The value obtained for the refractive index is 1.492(15) for the wavelengths between 118.834 and 251.140 microm, for a polypropylene film of 12.71(2)-microm thickness and 0.9049(7) g/cm3 density.
Flores-Mijangos
Jesús
J
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuidad Universitaria, A. Postal 70453, C. P. 04510, México. flores@nuclecu.unam.mx
Beltrán-López
Virgilio
V