Patent ID: 6619073
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: C03B,C03C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of forming a deep UV fused silica optical glass member blank, the method comprising the steps of:providing a fused silica optical glass blank having a plurality of metal ion impurities and non-bridging oxygens, said fused silica optical glass blank having a 248 nm transmittance/cm, subjecting the fused silica optical glass blank to a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, carbon monoxide and mixtures of these at a temperature in the range of 350Â° C. to 600Â° C. and a pressure in the range of 1 to 90 atm for a duration sufficient to cause the gas to diffuse into the fused silica optical glass and wherein said diffused gas reacts with the fused silica metal ion impurities and non-bridging oxygen and increases the 248 nm transmittance/cm of said fused silica optical glass.