METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING REFRACTIVE INDEX OF LIQUID

摘要

ABSTRACTA refractometer system and method for determiningthe refractive index of a liquid are disclosed. Therefractometer system (10) includes a light source (11)for emitting light and a polarizer (14) operativelyconnected to intercept at least a portion of the emittedlight for producing a polarizer light beam. A prism(38) having a first surface (38a) defining a plane ofincidence is included. The prism (38) is operativelyconnected to be adapted so that a liquid (75) may beheld in contact with the first surface (38a) defining aprism/liquid interface. Means of directing the polar-ized light beam through the prism (38) toward theprism/liquid interface is provided. A first portion ofthe polarized light is refracted into the liquid (75)and a second portion is reflected. A means for detec-tion (53) is provided, whereby the refractive index ofthe liquid (75) to be measured can be determined. In apreferred embodiment, the detector (53) comprises meansfor splitting the reflected light beam into two orth-ogonol light beam components, means for receiving andsensing (57) and (57a) the orthogonol light beam compon-ents; and means for determining intensity of the twoorthogonal light beam components.