refraction error In navigation, the error due to the bending of one or more wave paths by undesired refraction.
refraction loss That part of the transmission loss due to refraction resulting from nonuniformity of the medium.
refractive index Also called index of refraction. 1. Of a wave-transmission medium, the ratio between the phase velocity in free space and in the medium. 2. The ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to its velocity in a material, such as a fiber. Also, the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence of light on the material to the angle of refraction of the light. The refractive index of any material varies with the wavelength of light. In a fiber, core refractive index must be greater than that of the cladding.
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