Difference between revisions of "Refractivity"
(Created page with "The refractive index (n) of air is defined as: \dfrac{c}{v} = n") |
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The refractive index (n) of air is defined as: | The refractive index (n) of air is defined as: | ||
| − | + | n = c/v | |
| + | |||
| + | where: | ||
| + | c is the velocity of light in a vacuum. | ||
| + | v is the velocity of light in air. | ||
| + | A typical value of n is 1.000301. For convenience the refractive index is expressed as refractivity (N) | ||
| + | |||
| + | N = (n-1) x 10^6 | ||
| + | |||
| + | which results in a typical value of 301 Refractivity is defined by the equation: | ||
| + | |||
| + | N = 77.6 x (P/T) + 3.732 x 10^5 x (e/T^2) | ||
| + | |||
| + | where: | ||
| + | P is the atmospheric pressure. | ||
| + | T is the absolute temperature. | ||
| + | e is the water vapor pressure. | ||
| + | N varies with elevation. In a well mixed troposphere, the variation is exponential; however, in the range from 1 to 2 kilometers above sea level, the variation is approximately linear. This is referred to as a constant refractivity gradient. The refractivity gradient determines the microwave beam-bending. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Handling the variations of refractivity with elevation is the major challenge in the design of high reliability microwave links | ||
Revision as of 14:00, 21 February 2020
The refractive index (n) of air is defined as:
n = c/v
where: c is the velocity of light in a vacuum. v is the velocity of light in air. A typical value of n is 1.000301. For convenience the refractive index is expressed as refractivity (N)
N = (n-1) x 10^6
which results in a typical value of 301 Refractivity is defined by the equation:
N = 77.6 x (P/T) + 3.732 x 10^5 x (e/T^2)
where: P is the atmospheric pressure. T is the absolute temperature. e is the water vapor pressure. N varies with elevation. In a well mixed troposphere, the variation is exponential; however, in the range from 1 to 2 kilometers above sea level, the variation is approximately linear. This is referred to as a constant refractivity gradient. The refractivity gradient determines the microwave beam-bending.
Handling the variations of refractivity with elevation is the major challenge in the design of high reliability microwave links
