Process for the manufacture of optical bodies with refractive index gradients

摘要

The invention provides a process for producing a transparent optical-glass body having a linear index of refraction gradient. Particles of optical glass which contain leachble ingredients are pressed to form a self-supporting porous optical glass body. Some of the leachable ingredient is leached from a part of the porous glass, and a different amount is leached from a second part of the porous glass, the index of refraction varying in proportion to the different amounts leached from the glass body. The porous optical glass body is heated to eliminate the pores. Various means for effecting the different amounts of leaching over the length of the glass body are shown.