New Family of Glass for Lens Applications

A new composition of germanosili-cate glass created by adding zinc oxide has properties good for lens applications. The new family of zinc germanosilicate glass has a high refractive index comparable to that of pure germania glass. Samples showed high transparency, good ultraviolet-shielding properties, and good glass forming ability, making them suitable for lens applications. Germanosilicate glass is essential in the manufacture of optical amplifiers, waveguides, and solid-state lasers.