For a transverse path of 1m for Cherenkov light emitted from a particle of normal incidence in fused silica, the time difference for $\beta$=1 and $\beta$=0.99 is only 61ps. However, due to dispersion both emission angle and speed of light in the medium are a function of the wavelength. For 300nm and 600nm photons the time difference is 0.5ns.
$ n_{group} = n_{phase} - \lambda dn_{phase}/d\lambda $
To calculate the propagation speed of the photons inside the dispersive medium the group velocity has to be used. The dynamic range of the corresponding group velocity refractive index is about 3 times larger than that of the normal refractive index.
The figure shows these velocities for fused silica.
-- KlausFoehl - 14 Sep 2005
I | Attachment | Action | Size![]() | Date | Who | Comment |
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![]() | panda20a2.gif | manage | 2.4 K | 14 Sep 2005 - 18:07 | KlausFoehl | fused silica - n_phase and n_group |