TABLE OF CONTENTS Glasses are among the few solids which transmit light in the visible region of the spectrum. Glasses provide light in our homes through windows and electric lamps. They provide the basic elements of virtually all optical instruments. The worldwide telecommunication system is based on the transmission of light via optical waveguides. The esthetic appeal of fine glassware and crystal chandeliers stems from the high refractive index and birefringence provided by lead oxide, while the magnificent windows of many cathedrals exist only because of the brilliant colors which can be obtained in glasses.
The optical properties of glasses can be subdivided into three categories. First, many applications of glasses are based on bulk optical properties such as refractive index and optical dispersion. Other properties, including color, are based on optical effects which are strong functions of wavelength. Finally, modern glass technology increasingly relies on the application of non-traditional optical effects such as photosensitivity, photochromism, light scattering, Faraday rotation, and a host of others.
The history of optical science closely parallels the history of the development of optical glasses. Development of early telescopes and microscopes immediately forced a search for new optical glasses with appropriate refractive index and optical dispersion characteristics. It can be argued that the development of modern astronomy, biology, and medical science were controlled by the ability of glass makers to develop glasses with the appropriate optical properties.
The refractive index remains the most measured optical property...
