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Lorentz-Lorenz

The Lorentz-Lorenz formula, also known as the Clausius-Mossotti equation and the Maxwell equation, relates the refractive index of a dilute gas to its temperature, pressure, and molar refractivity. The index of refraction n is given by

n \approx \sqrt{1 + \frac{3 A p}{R T}}

where A is the molar refractivity, p is the pressure of the gas, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the (absolute) temperature.

History

The Lorentz-Lorenz formula is named after the Danish mathematician and scientist Ludwig Valentine Lorenz , who published it in 1869, and the Dutch physicist Hendrik Lorentz, who discovered it independently in 1870.

Last updated: 05-07-2005 05:06:02
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04