Nature Of Defects And Defect Generation In Optical Glasses

The natures of radiation-induced defects and defect generation processes in optical glasses are critically reviewed. Materials of interest here include silica, silicates, and fluorides, hence encompassing glasses now in use or contemplated for fiber optics, lenses, mirrors, windows, and other optical applications. The most extensive discussions are devoted to pure fused silica because of its wide application and extensive literature and its value as a simple prototype for beginning to understand more complex systems. Emphasis is placed on the atomic scale structure of point defects, as gleaned mainly from the technique of electron spin resonance, although such important properties as optical absorption, luminescence, and volume change are also discussed.