Measurement of the refractive index of an Er3+:YAG crystal melt

A new method for measuring the refractive index of crystals and melts at high temperatures is presented. The refractive index of an Er3+:YAG crystal melt is determined during the laser-heated pedestal growth process close to the melting point. The main idea is to use the maximal difference in the intensities of two polarizations of thermal radiation passing the melt-air interface. From the Fresnel equations, it follows that this difference is almost proportional to the refractive index. Angular diagrams of the thermal radiation of the melt for two polarizations are analyzed. The obtained value of the refractive index of the Er3+:YAG melt is n = 1.84 ± 0.01 in the wavelength range of 550–620 nm.