A total internal reflection-based differencial refractometer, capable of measuring the real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index in real time, is presented. The device takes advantage of the phase difference acquired by s- and p-polarized light to generate an easily detectable minimum at the reflected profile. The method allows to sensitively measuring transparent and turbid liquid samples.

© 2012 OSA

1. G. H. Meeten and A. N. North, “Refractive index measurement of absorbing and turbid fluids by reflection near the critical angle,” Meas. Sci. Technol.6(2), 214–221 (1995). [CrossRef]
2. A. J. Jääskeläinen, K. E. Peiponen, and J. A. Räty, “On reflectometric measurement of a refractive index of milk,” J. Dairy Sci.84(1), 38–43 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
3. W. R. Calhoun, H. Maeta, A. Combs, L. M. Bali, and S. Bali, “Measurement of the refractive index of highly turbid media,” Opt. Lett.35(8), 1224–1226 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. W. R. Calhoun, H. Maeta, S. Roy, L. M. Bali, and S. Bali, “Sensitive real-time measurement of the refractive index and attenuation coefficient of milk and milk-cream mixtures,” J. Dairy Sci.93(8), 3497–3504 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. M. McClimans, C. LaPlante, D. Bonner, and S. Bali, “Real-time differential refractometry without interferometry at a sensitivity level of 10(-6),” Appl. Opt.45(25), 6477–6486 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
6. G. R. Fowles, Introduction to Modern Optics, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., New York, 1968.
7. M. H. Chiu, J. Y. Lee, and D. C. Su, “Complex refractive-index measurement based on Fresnel’s equations and the uses of heterodyne interferometry,” Appl. Opt.38(19), 4047–4052 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. S. T. Flock, B. C. Wilson, and M. S. Patterson, “Total attenuation coefficients and scattering phase functions of tissues and phantom materials at 633 nm,” Med. Phys.14(5), 835–841 (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
9. http://refractiveindex.inf
10. S. C. Zilio, “Refratômetro diferencial para medir o índice de refração e coeficiente de atenuação de um líquido em tempo real”, Patent pending.

Appl. Opt.

• M. H. Chiu, J. Y. Lee, and D. C. Su, “Complex refractive-index measurement based on Fresnel’s equations and the uses of heterodyne interferometry,” Appl. Opt.38(19), 4047–4052 (1999). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. McClimans, C. LaPlante, D. Bonner, and S. Bali, “Real-time differential refractometry without interferometry at a sensitivity level of 10(-6),” Appl. Opt.45(25), 6477–6486 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

J. Dairy Sci.

• A. J. Jääskeläinen, K. E. Peiponen, and J. A. Räty, “On reflectometric measurement of a refractive index of milk,” J. Dairy Sci.84(1), 38–43 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• W. R. Calhoun, H. Maeta, S. Roy, L. M. Bali, and S. Bali, “Sensitive real-time measurement of the refractive index and attenuation coefficient of milk and milk-cream mixtures,” J. Dairy Sci.93(8), 3497–3504 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Meas. Sci. Technol.

• G. H. Meeten and A. N. North, “Refractive index measurement of absorbing and turbid fluids by reflection near the critical angle,” Meas. Sci. Technol.6(2), 214–221 (1995). [CrossRef]

Med. Phys.

• S. T. Flock, B. C. Wilson, and M. S. Patterson, “Total attenuation coefficients and scattering phase functions of tissues and phantom materials at 633 nm,” Med. Phys.14(5), 835–841 (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• W. R. Calhoun, H. Maeta, A. Combs, L. M. Bali, and S. Bali, “Measurement of the refractive index of highly turbid media,” Opt. Lett.35(8), 1224–1226 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• http://refractiveindex.inf
• S. C. Zilio, “Refratômetro diferencial para medir o índice de refração e coeficiente de atenuação de um líquido em tempo real”, Patent pending.
• G. R. Fowles, Introduction to Modern Optics, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., New York, 1968.

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