dispersive power

noun

, Optics.

1. a measure of the ability of a substance to disperse light, equal to the quotient of the difference in refractive indices of the substance for two representative wavelengths divided by the difference of the refractive index for an intermediate wavelength and 1.

Example Sentences

Now, this sort of spectrum is greatly weakened by every increase of dispersive power, because the light is spread out into a longer ribbon and made to cover a more extended area.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand, a spectrum of bright lines undergoes no such weakening by an increase in the dispersive power of the spectroscope.

From Project Gutenberg

As it possesses high refractive and dispersive power, it presents when properly cut great brilliancy and “fire,” and the name has reference to its diamond-like appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

Homogeneity.—The optical desideratum is uniformity of refractive index and dispersive power throughout the mass of the glass.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand, while in the older crown and flint glasses the relation between refraction and dispersion had been practically fixed, dispersion and refraction increasing regularly with the density of the glass, in some of the new glasses introduced by Abbe and Schott this relation is altered and a relatively low refractive index is accompanied by a relatively high dispersion, while in others a high refractive index is associated with low dispersive power.

From Project Gutenberg