Optimization design and test of a high-precision measuring deviceof liquid refractive index based on the method ofminimum deviation angle

For high-precision refractive index measurements of amorphous fluids, the minimum deviationangle method was used to design a novel thermostatic hollow trigonal prism device. The optical path andthermostatic compenents of the device are precisely designed. The device can be used not only to measure therefractive index of liquids, but also to quantify the measurement results and uncertainties. Firstly, the precisedesign and machining of the optical plane helps to precisely control the measurement light. Secondly, the tortuous hollow tube inside the thermostatic jacket is designed, which allows temperature fluctuations and uni-formity of the liquid to be sufficient for high-precision refractive index measurements. Finally, the device isapplied to measure a liquid's refractive index, and the measurement uncertainty of each influence factor isquantitatively analyzed. The experimental results show that the refractive index measurement of three liquids,namely water, isooctane and tetrachloroethylene, could achieve an accuracy of 10-7 at 10-5 of uncertainty.Thus, the device provides a method for highly-precise measurements of the refractive index of liquids