Topics in Particle and Dispersion Science

Consider a homogeneous medium with an imaginary part, m", of the complex refractive index equal to 0.001 at a wavelength of light of 1 µm. From Eq. 3 in Refractive index you obtained a value of a = ~1.26e4 m^-1 for the absorption coefficient at that wavelength.

You would like to estimate a relative power of light, dΦ / Φ, lost due to absorption on passing through a layer of the medium of thickness dz, where Φ is the power entering the layer. From Eq. 1 in Absorption coefficient, you obtain dΦ / Φ = - a dz. Consider a 0.1 m thick layer of the medium. Hence, dz = 0.1 m. By applying the above equation, you obtain | dΦ / Φ | = ~1.26e3. This does not seem right, since | dΦ / Φ | is expected not to exceed unity (Why?). What is wrong here?

CITATION: Jonasz M. 2006. Problem: Absorption coefficient and trsnamission of light (www.tpdsci.com/Tpc/AbsCfTsm_P.php). In: Top. Part. Disp. Sci. (www.tpdsci.com).

HISTORY: Published: 03-Dec-2006 Modified: 05-Mar-2008 Peer-reviewed: PENDING