Optical and physical parameters of Plexiglas 55 and Lexan.

The following parameters have been obtained for Plexiglas 55 and Lexan: refractive index n at 486.1 nm, 589.3 nm, and 656.3 nm, the thermooptic constant dn/dT at 632.8 nm, the linear thermal expansion coefficient; the photoelastic constants q(11), q(12), p(11), and p(12); and the elastic moduli c(11), c(12), s(11), and s(12). The experimental value for the density derivative of refractive index rho(dn/drho)T deviates by only a small amount from the value calculated from the Lorentz-Lorenz equation. This is the expected result for molecular solids. The density variation with temperature is the dominant contribution to dn/dT.