title: Long-term deformation at room temperature observed in fused silica.
abstract: Cases of long-term deformation of fused silica flats are reported. The phenomenon is detected at the scale of the nanometer, and exhibits a time constant of the order of 9 years. The observed deformation appears related to gravity and constraints, but a change of physical properties locally resulting in non-homothetic behavior is also hypothesized.
authors.affiliation: CNR - Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy. maurizio.vannoni@inoa.it
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vannoni
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sordini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molesini