Optical constants of D_2O in the infrared*

Abstract

The near-normal incidence spectral reflectance of deuterium oxide at 27 °C has been measured in the spectral range 6800–350 cm−1. Kramers-Kronig phase shift analysis has been applied to measured reflectance to obtain values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex index of refraction Nˆ(ν) = n(ν) + ik(ν). The results are compared in detail with the corresponding optical constants of ordinary water at 27 °C. In general, the D2O absorption bands are narrower and less intense than the corresponding bands in ordinary water.