In a previous paper [Appl. Opt. 35, 1566 (1996)] one of us presented new equations for evaluation of the phase refractive index of air over a range of wavelengths and atmospheric parameters. That paper also gave an incorrect, although sufficiently accurate, procedure for calculating the group refractive index. Here we describe the results of a more rigorous derivation of the group index that takes proper account of the Lorentz–Lorenz formula, and we demonstrate that deviations from the Lorentz–Lorenz formula are insignificant to within a foreseeable precision of dispersion measurements for atmospheric conditions. We also derive and evaluate a simplification of the resultant equation that is useful for exploratory calculations. We clarify the limits of validity of the standard equation for the group refractive index and correct some minor errors in the previous paper.

© 1999 Optical Society of America

[Optical Society of America ]

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Speckle photography with different pupils in a multiple-exposure scheme (JOSAA)
• Interfacial shape and contact-angle measurement of transparent samples with confocal interference microscopy (OL)
• Interfacial shape and contact-angle measurement of transparent samples with confocal interference microscopy: a publisher's erratum (OL)
• Refractive Index of Air: 3. The Roles of CO₂, H₂O, and Refractivity Virials (AO)
• Refractive Index of Air: 3. The Roles of CO ₂, H₂O, and Refractivity Virials: Erratum (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• Metrology for the Space Interferometry Mission
• High Sensitivity Vibration Measurements with Absolute Calibration
• Application of Frequency Combs for Precision Measurement of Refractive Index of Air
• High Flux Atom Lasers, Interferometry and the Shot Noise Limit
• Absolute distance measurement with 0.1 μm accuracy using the MSTAR sensor