Measuring the refractive index on a goniometer in the dynamic regime

Goniometers with ring lasers and other automatic goniometers operate in the dynamic regime, i.e., they have a continuously rotating object table with a prism. This article is devoted to a new method of measuring the refractive index of materials on a dynamic goniometer using the least-deviation method. The material carrier of unit refractive index is a sample in the form of a triangular prism or a liquid placed in a cell in the form of a hollow triangular prism. The fundamental optical layout of the measurement method is shown, and its metrological characteristics are considered. The proposed measurement method is implemented in the State Primary Standard Unit Refractive Index. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.