Measurements of the refractive indices and refractive index increment of a synthetic PMMA solutions at 488 nm

Abstract We describe a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) method for measuring the refractive index (RI) of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) solution in both acetone and methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK). The measurements are made as a function of concentration values 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 g/l at a wavelength of 488 nm with a high degree of accuracy tends to 1.4×10 −5 . The refractive index increments (RIIs) d n /d c of PMMA in both investigated solvents are determined too. In addition, the RIIs Δ n as a function of concentration and the RIIs at zero concentration (d n /d c ) c =0 are determined for both solvents accurately. The PMMA solutions in acetone and MEK solvents are chosen for laser light scattering investigations.