title: Refractive-index changes caused by proton radiation in silicate optical glasses.
abstract: We have studied experimentally, by using a differential interferometric technique, the effect of proton radiation on the refractive index of commercial (Schott) silicate crown glasses, BK7 and LaK9, and their radiation-resistant counterparts. The strongest effect was observed for the radiation-hard lanthanum crown LaK9G15: At a 0.65-Mrad dose the index change was approximately 3 x 10(-5). Radiation-hard glasses are used in optical systems operating in radiation environments because they prevent spectral transmission degradation in the visible. However, such glasses are not protected against radiation-induced refractive-index perturbations, and a diffraction-limited optical system based on such glasses may fail owing to radiation-induced aberrations.
authors: Multitel a.s.b.l., Mons, Belgium. gusarov@telecom.fpms.ac.be
authors: Andrei I
authors: AI
authors: Gusarov
authors: Dominic
authors: D
authors: Doyle
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Hermanne
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Berghmans
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Fruit
authors: Gerd
authors: G
authors: Ulbrich
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Blondel