Re: [Phys-l] index of refraction

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 05/11/2009 10:49 AM, Paul Lulai wrote:
> .....  Curious if there is a more high-falutin college or industrial
> approach.

Since you asked:  
  http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-47-17-3143
  J. Zhang, Z. H. Lu, and L. J. Wang, 
  "Precision refractive index measurements of air, N2, O2, Ar, and CO2 with a frequency comb," 
  Appl. Opt. 47, 3143-3151

> > We report precision measurements of the refractive indices of dry
> > air, N2, O2, Ar, and CO2, performed by using a frequency comb as the
> > light source in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer setup. Improved
> > dispersion formulas for all gases are derived with a sensitivity
> > level of 10^−9. These results are valid for a wavelength range from
> > 740 to 860 nm and are in good agreement with measurements from other
> > groups.

Also:
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mach-Zehnder_interferometer