# optmat

**Optical properties of materials, with their sources, conventions, and limitations.**

optmat provides curated data and models for gases, glasses, crystals, and metals
used in ultrafast and nonlinear optics: dispersion and absorption, third-order and
Raman response, and ionisation.

(why-optmat)=
(what-optmat-does-differently)=
(what-is-there-now)=
## Start with optmat

The {doc}`Introduction <introduction/index>` describes the available properties,
how to install the package, and the relationship between published data and models.
Go straight to the {doc}`quickstart` for working examples, or read the
{doc}`functionality overview <introduction/overview>` first.

## Explore the documentation

- **{doc}`User guide <user-guide/index>`:** conventions, use, physical models, and
  validation, arranged as a continuous guide with chapters for each response.
- **{doc}`The data <the-data/index>`:** source records, the data format, the review
  register, and the gallery.
- **{doc}`Developers guide <developers/index>`:** contributing data, models, code,
  and documentation, with development checks and enhancement proposals.
- **{doc}`API <api/index>`:** signatures, units, and reference details for the core,
  gas, and solid interfaces.

(how-the-package-is-organised)=
Package architecture is described in the {doc}`developers/index`.

(ai-assisted-development-and-verification)=
For the project's approach to curation and verification, including AI assistance,
see {doc}`about`. Source code and issues are at
[LupoLab/optmat](https://github.com/LupoLab/optmat).

```{toctree}
:hidden:
:maxdepth: 3

Introduction <introduction/index>
User guide <user-guide/index>
The data <the-data/index>
Developers guide <developers/index>
API <api/index>
```