Patent ID: 8030232

Claim:
A method for producing a titanium-containing oxide glass having a composition represented by the formula (M1) 1-x (M2) x (Ti 1-y1 (M3) y1 ) y2 O z , wherein M1 is one element selected from Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Na, and Ca, M2 is at least one element selected from Mg, Ba, Ca, Sr, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Na, Sc, Y, Hf, Bi, and Ag, M3 is at least one element selected from V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Al, Si, P, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, Sb, and Te, and x, y1, y2, and z satisfy: 0 ≦x≦ 0.5, 0 ≦y 1<0.31, 1.4 <y 2<3.3, 3.9 <z< 8.0, x+y 1≠0 when M 1 is Ba, and y 1≠0 when M 1 and M 2 are Ba; and wherein the glass is a sphere having a minimum diameter of 0.5 mm or more, the method comprising: (a) heating and melting a raw material adjusted to have a predetermined composition, with the raw material being levitated in air; and (b) cooling the raw material at a cooling rate of 500°/C./sec to 1,500° C./sec after melting.