The Optical Constants of Sodium-Potassium Alloys

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Abstract
The optical constants of sodium-potassium alloys were investigated for an entire alloy series by the polarimetric method. Bright metallic surfaces were obtained by filling glass cells with the molten metal in a vacuum. Excepting sodium, all the specimens were observed in the liquid form. In the region near the composition corresponding to NaK the refractivity-concentration curve has a maximum value of 0.137 and the absorptive index-concentration curve has a minimum value of 12.5. The effect of change in temperature was studied for some of the mirrors. The solid alloy containing 83 per cent. Na showed a change in the optical constants with a change in temperature, but no change was found for the liquid alloy containing 26 per cent Na. It could not be definitely determined whether the change observed for the solid alloy was due to a change in the optical constants or was due to a possible surface effect resulting from the metal expanding and making better contact with the glass.

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