The refractive index of a material quantifies how much light is bent, or refracted, when entering the material from another medium. It is a dimensionless number that indicates how much slower light travels in the material compared to a vacuum, influencing optical properties like reflection and transmission.
Spectroscopy is a scientific technique used to analyze the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation to determine the composition, structure, and properties of substances. It is fundamental in fields like chemistry, physics, and astronomy for identifying materials and understanding molecular and atomic interactions.
The spectral attenuation coefficient quantifies the reduction in intensity of a light beam as it travels through a medium, varying with wavelength. It is crucial in fields like oceanography and optics to understand how different wavelengths are absorbed or scattered by the medium, affecting visibility and remote sensing accuracy.
Light source attenuation refers to the reduction in intensity of light as it travels through a medium, due to absorption, scattering, and other factors. This phenomenon is crucial in fields like optics and telecommunications, where understanding and compensating for attenuation is necessary for effective light transmission and imaging.