Models for the wavelength dependence of the index of refraction of water

Models for the index of refraction of water are reviewed and reduced to wavelength-dependent formulas. A simple three-term nonlinear model derived from Quan and Fry [Appl. Opt. 34, 3477-3480 (1995)], originally developed for the visible region, fits the available data well over an extended range covering the UV to the near-IR (200-1100 nm).