Long-term deformation at room temperature observed in fused silica.
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.
Vannoni
Maurizio
M
CNR - Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125 Firenze, Italy. maurizio.vannoni@inoa.it
Sordini
Andrea
A
Molesini
Giuseppe
G