Classification of Optical Materials

CLASSIFICATION OF OPTICAL MATERIALS

Generally, optical materials are classified into three types based on the nature of propagation of light namely,

(i) Transparent

(ii) Translucent

(iii) Opaque

(i) Transparent

Transparent materials are the materials which transmit the light with little absorption and reflection. These materials are transparent in nature and hence, one can clearly view the object through the material.

Electrical insulated materials are transparent. Similarly, few semiconducting materials are also transparent.

(ii) Translucent

The incident light gets scattered within the materials and hence, the diffused light is transmitted with the other side of the materials.

One cannot clearly view the object while viewing through the materials. These materials are These materials are known as as translucent material.

(iii) Opaque

The material which absorbs the visible light is termed as opaque. When an electromagnetic radiation in the entire visible spectrum is incident on this material, either it gets reflected or absorbed.

Thus, the materials are opaque. Few semiconducting materials also exhibit this opaque nature.