Ultraviolet transmission of fluoride glasses

In recent years there has been a great deal of interest in infrared-transmitting materials. However, with the commercial interest in excimer lasers and collection and utilization of solar energy, there is an increased interest in UV transmitting materials. In the absence of impurities, it has been observed that fluoride glasses are potentially very good UV transmitters. This paper reports the effects of intense UV radiation on fluoride glasses of various composition and on the status of dopants in those glasses. Possible limitations for these materials as UV transmission media are discussed