Radiation Resistant Optical Glasses

Hostile environments created by short wavelength electromagnetic radiation, e.g. UV, X-ray and y-radiation, or from particle fluxes, for example, a-particles, b-particles, protons and neutrons,c an produce defects within optical glasses. This loss of transmission is detrimental to the performance of the optical system and must be eliminated or reduced to a manageable level. For applications within these hostile environments, radiation-stabilized optical glasses have been developed. Radiation test results are, discolouration of stabilized and not stabilised glasses will be compared and colour-centres discussed.