28.1 Normal Dispersion
28.1 Normal Dispersion
28.1 Normal Dispersion
Contents
28.1 Normal dispersion
different frequencies in vacuum for all of them move with the same speed c.
ent colours. The separation happens because the different wavelengths have
term it the variation of refractive index with the wavelength. In other words
2 28 Dispersion
Cauchy studied dispersion and gave a formula which described the dispersion
in the visible range quite well. The following formula is known as Cauchy’s
dispersion formula,
B C
n(λ) = A + + , (28.1)
λ2 λ4
where A, B and C are constants which depend on the medium. Experimen-
tally the constants can be determined be measuring the the refractive index
for three wavelengths. In usual condition the first two terms would suffice to
dn B
=− 3 (28.2)
dλ λ
to a good accuracy. Since A and B both are positive the refractive index
Problem 1: Suppose nviolet = 1.60, ngreen = 1.53, and nred = 1.50, draw the
For material transparent to visible region Cauchy’s formula works very well
but if one further increases the wavelength say to the infra-red, one finds the
refractive index suddenly decreases very fast and does not obey the Cauchy’s
law. One now approaches the absorption region. Further increasing the
wavelength once again refractive index becomes large. Again the behaviour
is quite similar to the visible region for the increase in wavelength. If the range
the figure (28.1) below. The pattern may repeat further as shown, giving
Wavelength ( λ )
The first theory of it came from Sellmeier who assumed that all elastically
2 Aλ2
n =1+ 2 , (28.3)
λ − λ20
We will now see the effect of dispersion when an electromagnetic field incident
on a dielectric. In chapter 3 we have seen that for the LIH we can write,
D = ǫE, (28.5)
D = ǫ0 E = ǫ0 E + P = ǫ0 (1 + χ)E. (28.6)
The vector P(= ǫ0 χE) is called the Polarisation vector and is assumed to be
linearly proportional to the electric field. The factor χ is called the electric
that substance are displaced from there mean position as shown in the fig.
(28.2). The electron does not leave the molecule as it is bound to it by some
measured by the quantity P, the net dipole moment per unit volume. If one
has N such electrons per unit volume of that substance, polarisation is given
by
P = −N ex (28.7)
where x is the displacement of the electron from its mean position as shown
in the figure. Where we are assuming implicitly that the field applied is along
the positive-x direction. The negative sign comes due to the negative charge
of the electron and hence the displacement is along the negative-x direction.
If the electron is little bit displaced from its mean position and left it would
E
e−
x
oscillate with a natural frequency ω0 . The positive ions do not move much
due to their large masses. Now if the substance is under time varying electric
field, E, the displacement would change with time, i.e. it will undergo a
N e2
P̈ + rṖ + ω02 P = E. (28.9)
m
Now we use the other two Maxwell equations, viz. ∇×E = −Ḃ and ∇×H =
∇ × Ḃ = µ0 D̈
∇ × (∇ × E) = −µ0 ǫ0 Ë − µ0 P̈
∇2 E = µ0 ǫ0 Ë + µ0 P̈ (28.10)
where we used the Maxwell equation ∇·E = 0 and have assumed permeability
1 1
P̈ = (∇2 E − 2 Ë). (28.11)
µ0 c
relation.
ω µ0 N e 2 2
(−ω 2 − irω + ω02 )(−k 2 + ) = − ω . (28.14)
c2 m
After some re-arrangement of terms we get
ω2 (µ0 c2 N e2 /m)
2
k = 2 1+ 2 . (28.15)
c ω0 − iω − ω 2
Now ω/k is the phase velocity v, and refractive index n = c/v, so we have
2 (µ0 c2 N e2 /m)
n =1+ 2 . (28.16)
ω0 − iω − ω 2
So we find that in general the refractive index can be imaginary depending
on the frequency and this would lead to absorption. Now if ω02 − ω 2 >> rω
real,
2 (µ0 c2 N e2 /m)
n =1+ . (28.17)
ω02 − ω 2
In vacuum the wavelength λ = 2πc/ω and if λ0 = 2πc/ω0 , we get the Sell-
that type and the total electrons available per unit volume is N . Proceeding
as earlier this would lead to the general Sellmeier type formula (28.4)
2 µ0 N e2 X fj λ2j
n =1+ . (28.20)
4π 2 m j λ2 − λ2j