Light scattering properties in ternary germanate glasses

Ternary germanate glass systems of GeO 2 -P 2 O 5 -MF x ( MF x : CaF 2 , ZnF 2 , PbF 2 , AlF 3 , and GaF 3 ) are developed to investigate their light scattering properties. Glass-forming regions for these ternary systems are determined, and the systems containing the divalent fluorides, such as CaF 2 and ZnF 2 , are found to exhibit wide glass-forming regions. Light scattering (Rayleigh scattering) and related properties for the systems are examined by comparison with those of pure GeO 2 glass which is prepared by flame hydrolysis techniques. It is clarified that some glasses containing fluorides such as CaF 2 , ZnF 2 and GaF 3 at specified compositions exhibit scattering intensities less than that of GeO 2 glass. The scattering intensity as low as 0.43 that of GeO 2 is obtained for the GeO 2 -P 2 O 5 -CaF 2 system.