Abbe number 1

Abbe number
In physics and optics, the Abbe
number, also known as the V-number
or constringence of a transparent
material, is a measure of the material's
dispersion (variation of refractive
index with wavelength) in relation to
the refractive index, with high values
of V indicating low dispersion (low
chromatic aberration). It is named after
Ernst Abbe (18401905), the German
physicist who defined it.

The Abbe number,[2][3] VD, of a

material is defined as

where nD, nF and nC are the refractive An Abbe diagram plots the Abbe number against refractive index for a range of different
glasses (red dots). Glasses are classified using the Schott Glass letter-number code to
indices of the material at the
reflect their composition and position on the diagram.
wavelengths of the Fraunhofer D-, F-
and C- spectral lines (589.3 nm,
486.1nm and 656.3nm respectively).
Abbe numbers are used to classify
glass and other optically transparent
materials. For example, flint glass has
V<50 and crown glass has V>50.
Typical values of V range from around
20 for very dense flint glass, around 30
for polycarbonate plastics, and up to 65
for very light crown glass, and up to 85
for fluor-crown glass. Abbe numbers
are only a useful measure of dispersion
Influences of selected glass component additions on the Abbe
for visible light, and for other [1]
number of a specific base glass.
wavelengths, or for higher precision
work, the group velocity dispersion is used.

Due to the difficulty and inconvenience in producing sodium and hydrogen lines, alternate definitions of the Abbe
number are used in some contexts (ISO 7944).[4] The value Vd is given by

which defines the Abbe number with respect to the yellow Fraunhofer d (or D3) helium line at 587.5618nm
wavelength. It can also be defined at the green mercury E-line at 546.073nm:

where F' and C' are the blue and red cadmium lines at 480.0nm and 643.8nm, respectively.
Abbe number 2

An Abbe diagram is produced by plotting the Abbe number Vd of a material versus its refractive index nd. Glasses
can then be categorised by their composition and position on the diagram. This can be a letter-number code, as used
in the Schott Glass catalogue, or a 6-digit glass code.
Abbe numbers are used to calculate the necessary focal lengths of achromatic doublet lenses to minimize chromatic
aberration.
The following table lists standard wavelengths at which n is usually determined, indicated by subscripts.[5] For
example, nD is measured at 589.3nm:

in nm Fraunhofer's symbol Light source Color

365.01 i Hg UV

404.66 h Hg violet

435.84 g Hg blue

479.99 F' Cd blue

486.13 F H blue

546.07 e Hg green

587.56 d He yellow

589.3 D Na yellow

643.85 C' Cd red

656.27 C H red

706.52 r He red

768.2 A' K IR

852.11 s Cs IR

1013.98 t Hg IR

References
[1] Abbe number calculation of glasses (http:/ / glassproperties. com/ abbe_number/ )
[5] L. D. Pye, V. D. Frechette, N. J. Kreidl: "Borate Glasses"; Plenum Press, New York, 1977
Article Sources and Contributors 3

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Abbe number Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=544283510 Contributors: Afluegel, Alro, BenFrantzDale, Bgwhite, BinaryPhoton, Carbuncle, Cedders, Conversion script,
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