&1 Bureau of Standards

.ifcrary, M.W. Bldg

OCT 11 B65

^ecknlcciL ^iote 9?©. 323

REFRACTIVE INDEX AND DISPERSION

OF LIQUID HYDROGEN

R. J. CORRUCCINI

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
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NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

technical ^lote 323

ISSUED September 24, 1965

REFRACTIVE INDEX AND DISPERSION

OF LIQUID HYDROGEN

R. J. Corruccini

Cryogenics Division

Institute for Materials Research

National Bureau of Standards

Boulder, Colorado

NBS Technical Notes are designed to supplement the Bureau's regular publications program. They provide a means for making available scientific data that are of transient or limited interest. Technical Notes may be

listed or referred to in the open literature.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402

Price: 25$

CONTENTS

Abstract 1

1. Introduction 1

2. Dispersion 3

Table 1 - Refractive Indices of Hydrogen Gas at STP 5

3. Experimental Refractive Indices of the Liquid 6

3.1. Data of Belonogov and Gorbunkov [l] 6

Table 2 - Dispersion of Hydrogen 8

3.2. Data of Johns and Wilhelm [ 2] 9

3.3. Data of Augustin [ 3] 11

3.4. Data of Scheel [ 20] 12

3. 5. Summary and Comparison of the Data -- 13

4. Calculation of Refractive Index from Dielectric

Constant 13

4

Table 3 - Summary of deviations, 10 (n -n n ) - 14

calc. exptl.

5. The Ortho vs Para Difference 15

6. Proposed Experimental Method 17

7. Symbols 18

8. References 19

Figure 1. Specific refraction of liquid hydrogen as a function of wavelength 21

Figure 2. Specific refraction of hydrogen plotted according

to Cauchy dispersion formula 22

in

Refractive Index and Dispersion of Liquid Hydrogen

R. J. Corruccini

The published experimental values of the refractive

index of liquid hydrogen have been correlated by calculating and comparing the values of the Lorentz-Lorenz ratio as a function of wavelength. Because of the scatter found

by this analysis, it is proposed that more accurate values

can be calculated from available data of other kinds,

namely, the dielectric constants determined by Stewart

and the optical dispersion determined for the gas at STP.

Formulas for this calculation are given.

Key Words: Dispersion, hydrogen, index of refraction, liquid, optical, refractive index

1. Introduction

The refractive index of liquid hydrogen is of interest at present

in two kinds of practical application: (a) the optics of bubble chambers,

and (b) as a prospective tool for densitometry. There have been several

determinations [ 1, 2, 3]. These have been made by what may be called

deviation methods, i.e. , methods based on determination of the bending

of a light beam on passage between a reference medium and the fluid

sample. From the precision of these data and the agreement among the

different investigations it appears that these results are not more accurate than a few hundredths of one percent in the refractive index.

Independent evidence that these data are of relatively low precision can be obtained by contrasting them with recent measurements of

W^^^^^M
the related property, the dielectric constant, by Stewart [4]. Stewart

found a weak dependence of the polarization or Clausius-Mossotti function,

e- 1 * p -p( e + 2) ' (1)

upon the density. The maximum variation of the polarization between

zero density and higher densities was about 0. 2%, and the variation of

the polarization between the densities of the triple point and the boiling

point was 0. 05%. Since the specific polarization can be identified with

the specific refraction or Lorentz-Lorenz function,

A-* r

x s —1 < 2 > p(n

X

+Z)

via the dispersion and Maxwell's relation,

e = n

2

, (3)

which is equivalent to

P = r„ • (4)

one would expect the specific refraction also to show this dependence on

density. However, in those investigations that covered a range of densities [ 1, 2], such an effect is lost in the scatter of the calculated

refractions. Hence we conclude that their accuracy and precision are

* See sec. 7 for definitions of symbols.
considerably poorer than those of Stewart.

Stewart claimed a precision of 0. 05% in £ - 1 which corresponds

to about 0. 005% in n^ of the liquid. It is suggested here that values of

n, calculated from Stewart's dielectric constant data may be more accurate than the available experimental values. In order to complete such

a calculation, a dispersion relation is needed,

r

x -rro = f(M. (5)

A crude relation is derivable from the experimental data on the liquid,

and a much more precise one is derivable from available data on the gas

at STP. The latter data determined by interferometry are as much as two orders of magnitude more precise in r. Therefore it is suggested

that a dispersion relation obtained from the data on the gas is to be preferred even though it is the liquid state for which we wish to make predictions. As will be shown, the dependence of r on density and temperature is small. Hence the gaseous dispersion corrections should be

sufficiently accurate regardless of state.

In this note we will examine the experimental data, then will

construct formulas for calculating n, from Stewart's dielectric constants,

and finally will compare the two kinds of results. It is necessary to

begin with the dispersion of the gas, as this enters into the discussion

of some of the experimental refractive indices of the liquid.

2. Dispersion

The Landolt-Bornstein tables [5] give extracts of much of the

published data on gaseous hydrogen. Additional references are given in

a compilation by Maryott and Buckley [6], There are five sources of

data in the visible and ultraviolet, of which four are in excellent agreement: Cuthbertson and Cuthbertson [7], Koch [8], Kirn [9], and Tausz
and Gorlacher [ 10]. (The data of Frivold, Hassel, and Rustad [ ll]

after correcting to the real gas are distinctly lower. ) The excellence

2

of this agreement is shown by the summary of values of n - 1 given by

Maryott and Buckley. (The extrapolation to A. = °° was made in each case

by using the original authors' own dispersion formulas. ) The four

sources mentioned above gave values of 10 (n - 1) ranging from 136. 1

to 136.4. In good agreement with these are two measurements that

essentially gave n directly by operating at wavelengths so great that n

had practically attained its limiting value. These are (a) measurements

at 6.7 and 8.7 microns in the infrared by Koch [8], both giving 10 (n -1)

= 136. 1, and (b) a microwave determination by Essen [ 12] at 9000 Mc/s

giving 136. ± 0. 2. From this body of consistent data we will obtain a representation of the dispersion of hydrogen.

For this purpose, only values of n calculated by the formulas of

Koch and of Kirn will be used, the reasons being as follows: (a) These

authors made much more extensive measurements than the others.

o Koch determined n at twenty wavelengths from 2302 to 5461 A. Kirn

o determined n at fifteen wavelengths from 1854 to 5461 A. Thus it is

felt that their dispersion relations ought to be more accurate than those

of Cuthbertson and of Tausz, each of whom used only four wavelengths

and employed simpler formulas, (b) The agreement between Koch and

Kirn is excellent, as is shown in Table 1. Neither of these authors

agrees as well with Cuthbertson or Tausz as they do with each other.
Table 1 Refractive indices of hydrogen gas at STP

10

6

(n

x

-1)

Source^"——-~___^ A. 4358 5461 6939 <x>

Koch,[8]

Kirn, [9]

141.794

141.739

139. 660

139. 628

(138.277)

(138. 220)

(136. 101)

(135.990)

Note: The values were calculated from the respective dispersion formulas of Koch and Kirn. The parenthetic values are extrapolations.

Various formulas have been used for representing dispersion,

all being derived from the fundamental relation [ 13]:

r ^

= Aa

Z, 2

(6)

in which one or two terms are used, the constants, a, b., and v. being

evaluated from the data. For the present purpose a convenient formula

is obtained by expansion of each term, collection of like terms, and

4

truncation after the term in v , thus:

x A x B

A. m .2 ..4

A. A.

(7)

This permits the density dependence to be separated from the dispersion

in the term, r ; i.e., the coefficients, A and B, are treated as independent of density. Equation (7) was fitted to the average of the smoothed

refractive indices of Koch and Kirn at the two mercury lines used in

nearly all of the various investigations, 4358 and 5461 A, and at A. = °°

.
/ 1 ? This gave A = 0.7799569 x 10 and B = 0. 495126 x 10 for X in A and r

in cm /g. Since this procedure fits an average of two sets of smoothed

data with a function that behaves like the original smoothing functions,

it necessarily follows a course between the original functions. The

average deviation from those experimental points of Koch and Kirn

lying in the visible region is 0. 04%. The formula is not intended for use

at X < 4000 A.

3. Experimental Refractive Indices of the Liquid

3. 1. Data of Belonogov and Gorbunkov [ 1]

These authors determined the refractive index of saturated

liquid parahydrogen from about the nbp (normal boiling point) to 30. 5°K

and at the wavelengths, 4360, 5460, and 5790 A. They also determined

the refractive index of saturated liquid normal hydrogen over the same

o temperature range but at 5460 A only. Their temperature range meets

that of the other investigators at about the nbp but does not overlap it. They are the only authors to have measured the refractive index of parahydrogen or the para-normal difference. The following comments may

be made about their work:

_4

(a) Their claimed accuracy is i 2 x 10 in the absolute values of

-4

n and ±1x10 in the difference of refractive index between

normal and parahydrogen. An image displacement method was

used.

(b) Their data are presented in small graphs. I estimate the error

in reading values of n from these graphs by an expandable scale

-4

and magnifier to be about ± 2 x 10 . This must be combined

with their estimated experimental error of the same magnitude

to give an overall error (rms) of the recovered data of about

-4 ±3x10 . This corresponds to about ± 0. 3% in r. They preo sent the data for both forms of hydrogen at 5460 A in one graph
as a function of temperature and in another graph as a function

of density. The densities were obtained from the data of Goodwin

et al. [ 14]. It should be possible to estimate the graph-reading

error by comparing the results read from these two graphs. On

comparing specific refractions calculated from the data of the

two graphs a consistent difference of about 0. 3% was found.

-4

This corresponds to 3 x 10 in n. There was little overlap of

the two sets. Thus it appears that the estimate above of reading

error is conservative, but that detectable systematic inconsistencies exist between the different representations of the same

data in the paper of Belonogov and Gorbunkov.

(c) The authors state that their results "correspond to the L-L

_5 formula with an accuracy of 5 x 10 . " The meaning of this

statement is obscure. The most conservative interpretation

would seem to be that r is constant within limits equivalent to

± 5 x 10 in the refractive index. However, the authors'

-4

claimed accuracy in n was only ±2x10 . Also, in order to

obtain such a finding, the density would have to be known more

accurately than 1 part in 2000. This is not the case [ 14] . Thus

it seems that these authors could not possibly have known either

n or p accurately enough to support the statement quoted above.

Nevertheless, the L-L relation seems to be obeyed, inasmuch

as I find no consistent dependence of their values of r on p. However, in comparing the values of r for a particular form of

hydrogen at a particular wavelength, variations from the mean

as large as 0. 5% were found indicating that the error estimate

in (b) above is too small.

(d) Because of the apparent applicability of the L-L formula, all of

the results at a given wavelength for a given form of hydrogen
can be lumped together in an average value of r, , independently

of the temperatures and pressures at which the individual measurements of n were made. The dispersion then can be expressed

simply as the dependence of r, on A.. The average values of r.

A. A. for parahydrogen at the three wavelengths are shown in figure 1 and Table 2.

Table 2

Dispersion of hydrogen

X, A Experimental values of r^, cm /g

4047

B& G[ 1] liquid J & W [2] liquid Aug. [ 3] liquid K-K,* gas STP

para normal normal normal normal

1. 0556

4358-60' 1. 056 1. 050 1. 0480 1.0508

5460-6

1^" 1. 032 1. 038 1. 032 1.0319 1. 0350

5790 1. 026 1. 0292

6563 1. 0246

6939 1. 018 c

CO (0.988) (0.998) (1.0106) (1. 0083)

10

6 A 1.301 0.984 0. 5165 0. 7800

10

12 B 3. 632 0.4951

Av. Dev5 0. 00037 0. 00043 0. 00009

See sec. 2 for origins of this column.

This is the range of nominal values for this Hg line quoted by the

various authors.

Average absolute difference between r, calculated by the dispersion

formulas and the experimental values.

8
If these data are fitted by the Cauchy formula (7), further evidence of imprecision is found, namely that the coefficient B is negative.

This is readily seen if r is plotted versus l/X as in figure 2; i.e. , a

A

simple curve through the three points of B-G is concave downwards.

However, for the behavior to be physically realistic, both of the coefficients, A and B, must be positive, giving a dispersion curve of the

shape shown schematically by the solid curve in the inset figure. This

behavior, corresponding to equation

(6), consists of an asymptotic

decrease to a limiting value, r^ ,

at zero frequency and a rise towards

Visible

Spectrum

infinity at frequencies v., in the

ultraviolet, corresponding to electronic resonances of the molecule.

The negative B coefficient does not

have much effect on the extrapolation to A= '"but results in negative

values at short wavelengths (dotted curve in inset figure); this is the

physically unreal behavior just referred to. Obviously then, the dispersion formula must be truncated at the term in l/A. . The values of r I 00 and A in Table 2 were obtained by least-squares fitting of the truncated

formula to the three values of r,.

A.

3. 2. Data of Johns and Wilhelm [2]

These authors made measurements on normal hydrogen from the

o triple point to the nbp at the wavelengths 4358, 5461, and 6939 A. The

specific refractions, as calculated by them using the densities of

Kamerlingh Onnes and Crommelin [15], showed no dependence on temperature or density. These have been recalculated using modern density data. The correlation for normal hydrogen by Goodwin et al. [ 14]
has been adopted for this purpose. The latter densities are from 0. 1 to

0. 2% higher than the older values. Their use does not alter the conclusion that Johns and Wilhelm's specific refractions are independent of

temperature and density. The net effect is to lower their average values

of r

x by 0. 16 to 0. 18%.

An attempt was made to adjust the temperature scale used by

Johns and Wilhelm to a modern basis. The only clue to what their scale

was is their statement that the nbp of hydrogen is 20.41°K. By referring

to a listing by Moessen, Aston, and Ascah [ 16] of the older determinations of the nbp, we find that there was a Physikalische Technische

Reichsanstalt scale [ 17] on which the nbp of hydrogen could be construed

to have this value. If this were the one used, it would be reasonable to

correct all of Johns and Wilhelm's temperatures by the factor

20.38/20.41. (20.38° is taken to be the nbp of n-H on the NBS- 1955

scale. ) I have rather arbitrarily chosen to do this. Another possibility

is that Johns and Wilhelm were using a Leiden scale, but incorrectly.

This could have come about had they adopted the nbp of -252. 754° C

reported by Keesom, Bijl, and Van der Horst [ 18] combined with the

assumption, 0° C = 273. 16°K. This would have been erroneous because

Keesom et al. had based their nbp on 0° C = 273. 13° K. If this were the

source of Johns and Wilhelm's scale, then a translational shift by -0. 03

deg would be in order. I have not found any other ways of accounting

for their assumed value for the nbp. Either way of correcting their

4

scale changes the specific refraction by only a few parts in 10 . The

4

difference between the two ways just outlined is at most 1 part in 10 in

r. This is insignificant, inasmuch as their claimed accuracy of 0. 0003

4

in n corresponds to about ±24 parts in 10 in r. The corrected results of Johns and Wilhelm are given in figures

1 and 2 and Table 2. The three points in figure 2 show downward

10
curvature, the same defect noted in the data of Belonogov and Gorbunkov.

Hence, the dispersion formula is again truncated after the term in 1/A. .

3.3. Data of Augustin [ 3]

These were determined at five wavelengths for saturated liquid

at 745. 52 mm pressure. Using modern vapor pressure data [ 19], the

temperature is found to have been 20. 3l6°K. The determination was

made by measuring critical angles. The experiment was very similar

to that of Johns and Wilhelm. However, because of the way in which the

optical cell was constructed, the measurements gave the ratio of the

refractive indices of saturated liquid and vapor, whereas the refractive

indices by Johns and Wilhelm were referenced to vacuum. Augustin

obtained the refractive indices of the liquid from the above ratios by

using estimated values of the refractive index of the vapor. He obtained

these by assuming the L-L ratio to be constant between STP and the

saturated vapor at 20. 3°K and by assuming the vapor to be ideal. The

saturated vapor density that he calculated can now be seen to be 6% low.

Although experimental refractive indices of the saturated vapor are still

unavailable, this part of Augustin' s procedure can now be improved by

using certain modern data. In addition we can calculate n at all five

A. wavelengths, whereas Augustin had to omit one wavelength for lack of

subsidiary data. Two procedures can be suggested:

(a) Starting with experimental data for n, of the gas at STP, such as those described in sec. 2, calculate r from the L-L formula

A. (2) at the wavelengths used by Augustin. Assume that these

values are valid for the saturated vapor at 20. 3°K. Using modern

data for the density of the saturated vapor, convert the r, values

to n values for the saturated vapor using the L-L formula (2).

(b) Start with the value of specific polarization at the density of the

saturated vapor calculated from Stewart's formula (eq. 8 in

11
sec. 4). Equate this to r by Maxwell's relation (4). Use the

accurate formula (7) for dispersion of the gas at STP to convert

this to values of r, at the desired wavelengths. The final step is

the same as in procedure (a).

Procedure (a) requires only optical data but assumes that the

L-L ratio is constant over a very wide range of temperatures. Procedure (b) only requires the relatively small dispersion corrections to be

constant over this same range. Hence, (b) is to be preferred and was

used.

The density of the saturated vapor was found from the recent

correlation by Stewart and Roder [ 19] • The specific polarization at

3

this density was calculated to be 1. 00439 cm /g. The values of n. for

A. the vapor and, hence, those calculated for the liquid, are as much as

0. 02% higher than Augustin's. The corrected values of r. are given in

figures 1 and 2 and Table 2.

Augustin's paper appears to be a careful and precise work.

This impression is supported by the appearance of figures 1 and 2,

including the fact that the curvature in figure 2 is of physically realistic

sign. Hence the three-term dispersion formula (7) could be used to fit

his data. Another evidence of the quality of this work is the fact that

the saturated liquid density as determined by Augustin in a separate

experiment is within 0. 06% of modern data [ 14]

3. 4. Data of Scheel [ 20]

The refractive index of the gas at 1 atm pressure at two temperatures in the liquid air range as well as at STP was determined. The

low temperature data, if accurate enough, would be of interest as midpoints in tracing the slight temperature variation of the L-L ratio from

room temperature to the 20° K region. Unfortunately the data of Scheel

for the gas at STP are substantially lower than the data from the five

12
sources reviewed in sec. 2. The difference approaches 1% in (n - 1).

Because of this evidence of systematic error, the low temperature data

of Scheel were not used.

3.5. Summary and Comparison of the Data

Figures 1 and 2 and Table 2 compare four sets of specific refractions for normal hydrogen with one set for parahydrogen. Of the data

for the liquid, those of Augustin are thought to be the most accurate,

those by Belonogov and Gorbunkov the least accurate, and those by Johns

and Wilhelm intermediate but not much more accurate than those of

Belonogov and Gorbunkov. The data for the STP gas from K-K are

based on much more accurate data; however, it is a moot question how

well they represent the specific refraction of the liquid.

4. Calculation of Refractive Index from Dielectric Constant

In outline, the calculation proposed in the Introduction involves

the following steps:

(a) From the P-p-T correlation of Goodwin et al. [21] find the density of the desired state.

(b) From Stewart's formula

-= 0.99575 - 0.09069P + 1. 1227P

2

, g- cm units (8)

Xr

calculate the specific polarization.

(c) Equate this to r by Maxwell's identity (4). (Recent accurate measurements of the dielectric constants of several gases by Dunn

[22] confirm the validity of this identity for substances like

hydrogen which do not show anomalous dispersion. )

(d) Calculate the specific refraction at the desired wavelength by the

Cauchy-type dispersion formula (7).

(e) Extract the refractive index value from the L-L formula (2).

13
Stewart's formula (8) is for fluid parahydrogen and is limited to

3

temperatures below 100° K and densities below 0. 080 g/cm . This method of calculation yields specific refractions that depend

on density. Figure 1 contains two illustrative curves calculated for densities at which the practical extrema of r occur. Also, in order to find

out how well this calculation represents the experimental data, the

refractive index was calculated at each coordinate (T, A) at which a refractive index value has been reported for the (saturated) liquid. The

results are summarized in Table 3. It will be seen that the agreement

is comparable to the agreement of the experimental investigations among

themselves. This comparison was made without applying any corrections for the para-normal difference. If the para-normal difference

found by Belonogov and Gorbunkov could be assumed to apply under all

conditions, the deviations listed in Table 3 for Johns and Wilhelm and

for Augustin would all be increased by 6 units.

Table 3

4 Summary of deviations, 10 (n -n .. ) caxc. expxJ..

The calculated values of refractive index of liquid hydrogen were obtained

by the method of sec. 4. Comparisons were made without regard to

ortho-para composition.

Belonogov & Gorbunkov Johns & Wilhelm Augustin

X

A

para-H normal-H normal-H

Avg.

Dev.

Max.

Dev.

No. of

points

Avg.

Dev.

Max.

Dev.

No. of

points

Dev. *

4047 -1. 1 4358-60 -8.0 -15 7 -3. 6 -7 8 -0. 6

5460-61 +0. 1 + 5 7 -0.9 -7 9 -0. 1 5790 +2. 5 + 8 7 -0. 5

6563 -1.3

6939 + 3. +4 2

Wtd, Avg. -1.8 -1. 6 -0.7

* One experimental point at each wavelength

14
5. The Ortho vs Para Difference

o The comparison between normal and parahydrogen at 5460 A by

Belonogov and Gorbunkov, if applicable at all wavelengths, would permit one to adjust all of the data to the same basis of o-p composition.

Thus, in figure 1 the points of Johns and Wilhelm and of Augustin and in

figure 2 these plus the K-K curve would be lowered relative to the others

by the length of the arrow in each figure. Unfortunately, such an adjustment would worsen the overall agreement. This result, taken with the

various deficiencies of the work of Belonogov and Gorbunkov that have

been pointed out, suggests that their value for the normal-para difference should not be accepted in the absence of confirmation.

This conclusion is supported by the result of the following theoretical calculation in which we estimate the polar iz ability difference,

oi - oi , between the ortho and para hydrogen ground states; i.e. , J = 1 and J = 0, respectively. Since the polar iz ability is proportional to the

specific polarization according to the relation [ 13],

a = 3Mp/4irN , (9)

we may assume, neglecting dispersion, that the calculated percentage

difference in o> should correspond to the observed percentage difference

in r, . A. We begin by calculating the centrifugal stretching in the J = 1

state. The centrifugal force balance is described by the following equation [ 23]

K(a

x - a

Q

) = P

2 /Va

x

3

. (10)

15
The angular momentum is given by quantum theory as

P = (J[J+ 1] ) l ' Z

h/2-rr (11)

and the reduced mass \x is just m/2. Hence

2 2 3 a - a = h / -n Kma . (12)

-3 ° From this formula the stretching a - a is found to be 1. 12 x 10 A or

0. 15% of the internuclear distance, a . From this value and an estimate of the coefficient da/da., we can calculate the polariz ability difference.

There have been several calculations of da/da. according to vari-

° 2

ous theoretical models. Values in the range, 0.89 - 1.49 (A) , have

resulted. These have been summarized by Ishiguro et al. [24], whose

value 1.411 we adopt. In addition, Bell and Long [25] list two "experimental" values; 0. 67 from the relative degrees of depolarization of

Rayleigh and Raman scattering- -regarded by them as inaccurate --and

1. 68 from the isotope effect, calculated as (o? -a )/(a -a ). An alternate calculation will be made based on the latter value which gives the

highest of the calculated values of polarizability difference. Thus, for

da/da = 1.411 (Ishiguro) we obtain a - a = 1. 58 x 10" (A) or 0. 20%

of a. For dcy/da = 1. 68 (Bell) we obtain a. - <*,, = 1. 88 x 10~ (A) or

1 0. 24% of a. The normal-para difference found by Belonogov and Gorbunkov

from the refractive indices was (0. x 6 ± 0. 1)% of r.. /ft ?. The ortho5460 A

para difference would be one -third greater and thus at least three times

as large as any of the theoretically calculated differences.

16
6. Proposed Experimental Method

It is sometimes suggested that it is more accurate to derive

dielectric constants from refractive indices by the Maxwell relation,

2

e = n , than to determine them directly. This is undoubtedly true for

gases because the refractive index can be determined by very sensitive

interferometric methods. However, the opposite is likely to be true for

liquids, as this study exemplifies, because of the custom of using less

accurate deviation methods for the refractive index. Interferometers

have apparently not been used for absolute measurements on liquids

because of the impossibility of counting the passage of fringes continuously while isothermally attenuating the sample to a vacuum; i.e. , the

discontinuity at the liquid-vapor phase change would destroy the continuity of the fringe count. Yet it is obvious that continuity could be maintained in principle by following a path in the P-T plane that would pass

above the critical point and not intersect

the coexistence line. Thus, in the sche- P

matic diagram, to get from A to E without crossing the coexistence curve, one

could follow the path ABCDE. Considerable care would have to be taken to

maintain homogeneity of density in the

optical cell during such a change; otherwise the fringe pattern would be lost.

Use of a Fabry-Perot etalon with equalization of the inside and outside pressures is attractive, inasmuch as

distortions due to pressure are then limited to the small and calculable

effect of hydrostatic compression of the spacer. Sensitivity of the order

of 1 x 10 in n with etalon length as short as 1 cm appears to be feasible.

17
7. Symbols

a internuclear distance in diatomic molecules. (Subscripts refer to rotational quantum numbers. A

o rounded value for H is 0. 74 A. )

La

J rotational quantum number

K force constant for internuclear stretching. For H

its value is 0. 57 x 10" erg/(A) [23].

m atomic mass

n refractive index

n refractive index extrapolated to infinite wavelength

p specific polarization, (e-l)/p(e + 2)

P angular momentum

2 2 r specific refraction, (n - l)/p(n +2)

r specific refraction at infinite wavelength

a polariz ability, 3Mp/4-rrN. A rounded value for H

° 3

is 0.79(A) .

e dielectric constant

X wavelength

v frequency

p density

p, reduced mass of molecule

18
8. References

[ l] A. V. Belonogov and V. M. Gorbunkov, Optics and Spectroscopy

14 , 234 (1963). [Original in Optika i Spektroskopiia 14, 438

(1963)].

2] H. E. Johns and J. O. Wilhelm, Can. J. Res., 15A , 101 (1937).

3] H. Augustin, Ann. d. Physik 46, 419(1915).

4] J. W. Stewart, J. Chem. Phys. 40, 3297 (1964).

5] Landolt-Bornstein Tables, 6th ed. , Vol. II, Part 8 ( 1962) pp. 872,

879, 882, 885, 887.

6] A. A. Maryott and F. Buckley, Table of Dielectric Constants and

Electric Dipole Moments of Substances in the Gaseous State, NBS

Circular 537 (1953), p. 3.

7] C. Cuthbertson and M. Cuthbertson, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London),

A83 , 151 (1909).

8] J. Koch, Ark. Mat. Astr. Fys. 8, No. 20(1912).

9] M. Kirn, Ann. Physik ^4, 566(1921).

10] J. Tausz and H. Gorlacher, Z. tech. Phys. 1_2, 19 (1931).

11] O. E. Frivold, O. Hassel, and S. Rustad, Phys. Z. 38, 191

(1937).

12] L. Essen, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), B66, 189 (1953).

13] E. U. Condon and H. Odishaw, editors, Handbook of Physics,

1958, p. 6-111 (See also p. 6- 109 et seq. and p. 4- 1 1 1 et seq. ) (McGraw-Hill Book Co. , Inc. , New York, N. Y. ).

14] R. D. Goodwin, D. E. Diller, H. M. Roder, and L. A. Weber,

Cryogenics 2, 81(1961).

15] H. Kamerlingh Onnes and C. A. Crommelin, Leiden Commun.

137a (1913).

19
[ 16] G. W. Moessen, J. G. Aston, and R. G. Ascah, J. Chem. Phys.

22, 2096 (1954).

[17] F. Henning and W. Heuse, Z. Physik _23, 105(1924).

[ 18] W. H. Keesom, A. Bijl, and H. Van der Horst, Leiden Commun.

No. 217a (1931).

[ 19] R. B. Stewart and H. M. Roder, Chapter 11 in Technology and

Uses of Liquid Hydrogen, edited by Scott, Denton, and Nicholls

(Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1964).

K. Scheel, Verhandl. deut. physik. Ges. 9, 24(1907).

R. D. Goodwin, D. E. Diller, H. M. Roder, and L. A. Weber,

J. Research NBS, 67A , 173(1963).

A. F. Dunn, Can. J. Phys. 42, 1489(1964).

G. Herzberg, Spectra of Diatomic Molecules, 2nd edition, 1950,

pp. 104, 458 (D. Van Nostrand Co. , Inc. , Princeton, N. J. )

E. Ishiguro, T. Arai, M. Kotani, and M. Mizushima, Proc.

phys. Soc. (London), A65, 178 (1952).

R. P. Bell and D. A. Long, Proc. Roy. Soc. (London), A203 , 364(1950).

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

20
1.06

.05

1.04

1.03

.02

1. 01

i

1 O - i

1 Belonogov

1 and

i i i 1 Gorbunkov, 1963, para.

o

a - Johns and Wilhelm, 1937, normal.

D — Augus tin, 1915, normal.

Cuituiuieu, fjuiu

,,

Normal minus para difference at

o 5460 A according to B and G.

'

^--o403<1 g/cm3

/

=.07701-

\cNv

G i

A

4000 5000 6000 7000

X, A

Figure 1. Specific refraction of liquid hydrogen as a function of wavelength.

The two curves show the extremes given by the method of sec. 4 for saturated

liquid. The lower one is for the triple point density. The upper one is for the density at which p and r are maximum. This is near to the critical density.

With further decrease of density, p and r decrease again towards the lower

curve. (See figure 4 of the paper by Stewart [4] for the density variation of p. )

21

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