Dispersion & Prism

White light decomposed by wavelength-dependent refractive index — Cauchy and Sellmeier equations

Glass Type

Prism Geometry

Dispersion Data

n_d (589nm)
Abbe V
Δθ (°) spread
Min dev θ_d

Sellmeier Equation

n²(λ) − 1 = Σᵢ Bᵢλ² / (λ² − Cᵢ)

Cauchy approx:
n ≈ A + B/λ² + C/λ⁴

Dispersion power δ:
δ = (n_F − n_C)/(n_D − 1)
= 1/V (Abbe number)

Min deviation: θᵢ = A/2