Some special minor, but also main, glass components are photochemically sensitive substances. After being exposed to DUV-radiation glasses can show solarization, fluorescence, and defect absorption phenomena. A new alumina boron crown glass family based on oxidic components has good potentials for all applications of UV optical systems and also photochemical technology processes. In this brief paper we discuss by means of a model glass systems special effects in ultrapure glasses melted under reducing conditions. Irradiated glasses showed a strong dependence of solarization on the specific glass composition. A KrF excimer laser of Jenoptik GmbH Jena was used as an excitation source. Doses of 25 - 80 J/cm² were tested. Three characteristic defect absorption bands were observed in alumina boron crown glasses having iron impurities less than 5 ppm melted under reducing conditions. Excitation into the wavelength of maximum absorption causes characteristic fluorescence. Correlations to structural units with the help of RAMAN and NMR spectroscopy techniques are discussed.

Date Published: 11 January 1993
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1761, Damage to Space Optics, and Properties and Characteristics of Optical Glass, (11 January 1993); doi: 10.1117/12.138932

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1761:
Damage to Space Optics, and Properties and Characteristics of Optical Glass
James B. Breckinridge; Alexander J. Marker III, Editor(s)