CONVERGING LIGHT TRANSMITTING BODY OF HIGH PERFORMANCE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

Title of the Invention CONVERGING LIGHT TRANSMITTING BODY OF HIGH PERFORMANCE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF The present invention provides a converging light transmitting glass body whose refractive index gradually changes from its central portion to its surface in a direction transverse to a path of light, said glass body containing at least three cations constituting modifying oxides of the glass, a first and a second cation among said cations showing concentration changes of converse gradients from its central portion toward its peripheral surface, and a third cation showing no substantial concentration change at the central portion of the glass body but showing a substantial continuous concentration charge outwardly thereof toward its peripheral surface. The present invention also provides a process for producing the light transmitting glass body which comprises contacting a glass body containing a modifying oxide of a first cation with an ion source containing the second cation to produce a pre-produced glass body, and then contacting the pre-produced glass body with an ion source containing the third cation, or which comprises contacting a glass body containing a modifying oxide of a first cation with an ion source containing a second cation and a third cation. The converting light transmitting glass body of the present invention has an ideal refeactive index distribution.