What is Attenuation?
δ = (2π/λ)(OPD)
Attenuation refers to the reduction in the intensity, power, or magnitude of a signal or wave as it travels through a medium. This reduction can occur due to various factors, including absorption, scattering, reflection, diffraction, and other interactions between the signal and the medium. Attenuation is a common phenomenon in various fields, including telecommunications, acoustics, optics, and electromagnetic propagation.
where π is a constant (3.14159265) and λ is the wavelength of light illuminating the specimen. The optical path difference is the product of two terms: the thickness (t) and the difference in refractive index (n). The OPD can often be quite large even though the thickness of the object is quite thin.
How to Calculate Effective Path Length?
Effective Path Length calculator uses Effective Path Length = Total Attenuation/Specific Attenuation to calculate the Effective Path Length, The Effective Path Length generally refers to the distance that a signal or wave travels through a medium, accounting for any deviations or variations from a straight-line path. Effective Path Length is denoted by Leff symbol.
How to calculate Effective Path Length using this online calculator? To use this online calculator for Effective Path Length, enter Total Attenuation (A) & Specific Attenuation (α) and hit the calculate button. Here is how the Effective Path Length calculation can be explained with given input values -> 0.000667 = 360/0.03.