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Refractive index contrast

Refractive index contrast: In an optical fiber, a measure of the relative difference in refractive index of the core and cladding.

Note: Refractive index contrast, Δ, is given by Δ = (n 12- n 22)/(2n 12), where n 1 is the maximum refractive index in the core and n 2 is the refractive index of the homogeneous cladding.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188