Laser interferometric study of the physical properties of transformer oil

This paper describes the optical, thermal, and electrical properties of an important nonpolar dielectric liquid, transformer oil. Applying dual laser (He-Ne and Argon laser of wavelengths 632.8 and 514.5 nm, respectively), and the Mach-Zehnder interferometric technique, the refractive indices and its temperature gradients are determined. Using Maxwell's and Cauchy's equations, the following optical, thermal, and electrical properties are calculated: optical and dielectric dispersion, optical permittivity and its thermal coefficient, thermal coefficient of volume expansion, specific refraction, specific dispersivity, characteristic impedance, electric susceptibility, and the variation of Cauchy's emperical constants with temperature. Additionally, different physical phenomena are studied as functions of wavelength and temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.