https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04458-4
Regular Article
Simultaneous measurement of refractive index and dispersion using optical coherence tomography for restoration of transparent works of art
1
School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, NG11 8NS, Nottingham, UK
2
Malawi Institute of Technology, Malawi University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 5196, Limbe, S150 Road, 310105, Thyolo, Malawi
Received:
5
June
2023
Accepted:
8
September
2023
Published online:
21
September
2023
We describe a novel in situ non-invasive and non-contact technique for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and dispersion of transparent solid materials using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The technique requires multi-angle OCT imaging. It gives typical precision of 0.02 for the refractive index and 0.03 
m
for dispersion. The method can be applied to the restoration of modern sculptures made from plastics where it is important to have precise measurement of the refractive index of an object using a non-contact method, so that a resin-based adhesive with a matching refractive index could be found to restore a scratched or broken transparent works of art.
© The Author(s) 2023
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