Abstract:
The present invention is a method of making a lithography photomask and photomask blank. The method of making the lithography photomask and photomask blank includes providing a silicon oxyfluoride glass tube having an OH content less than 50 ppm. The method further includes cutting the silicon oxyfluoride glass tube, flattening the silicon oxyfluoride glass tube, and forming the flattened cut silicon oxyfluoride glass tube into a photomask blank having a planar surface. The present invention includes a glass lithography mask preform. The glass lithography mask preform is a longitudinal silicon oxyfluoride glass tube that has an OH content ≦10 ppm, a F wt. % concentration ≧0.5 wt. %.
Abstract:
A process for producing synthetic quartz glass using a burner composed of a plurality of concentric nozzles involves the steps of feeding a silica-forming raw material gas and a fluorine compound gas to a reaction zone from a center nozzle, feeding oxygen gas from a second nozzle outside the center nozzle, and feeding oxygen gas and/or hydrogen gas from a third nozzle. The silica-forming raw material gas is hydrolyzed to form fine particles of silica, which particles are deposited on a rotatable substrate so as to form a porous silica matrix, which is then fused to give the quartz glass. The flow rate of the oxygen gas fed from the second nozzle and the flow rate of the raw material gas are controlled so as to provide a 1.1- to 3.5-fold stoichiometric excess of oxygen. The excess oxygen suppresses SinullSi bond formation in the quartz glass, enabling the production of synthetic quartz glass having a high transmittance in the vacuum ultraviolet region.
Abstract:
A method for producing a synthetic silica glass for use with vacuum ultraviolet light comprises the steps of: (a) producing a soot preform; (b) heating the soot preform in an atmosphere containing fluorine to obtain a fluorine-doped soot preform; (c) consolidating the fluorine-doped soot preform to obtain a fluorine-doped synthetic silica glass; and (d) heating the fluorine-doped synthetic silica glass in an atmosphere containing hydrogen gas to obtain a synthetic silica glass doped with fluorine and hydrogen molecules. A synthetic silica glass having both a high transmittance and high ultraviolet light resistance with respect to light in the vacuum ultraviolet wavelength range can be produced.
Abstract:
Optical glass is produced by heating a porous gel to a high temperature to partly sinter it, heating it in a chlorine-containing atmosphere to subject it to hydroxyl group removal treatment, and then further heating it to sinter it. The optical glass produced by this process does not rise in bubbles even when heated.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for the continuous manufacture of vitreous synthetic silica doped with fluorine. This process consists of decomposing a silicon compound free of hydrogen in the flame of an inductive plasma burner, thereby forming silica upon reacting with the oxygen contained in the burner feed gas. A gaseous inorganic fluorine compound free of hydrogen, is sent into the flame preferably from outside the burner. Said fluorine compound simultaneously with the silicon compound decomposes whereby fluorine is introduced into the silica, lowering its index of refraction. The doped silica is then deposited on a heat-stable support in the form of a vitreous mass. The doped synthetic silica is particularly useful for making preforms for optical transmission fibers.
Abstract:
An optical component made of synthetic quartz glass includes a glass structure substantially free of oxygen defect sites and having a hydrogen content of 0.1×1016 to 1.0×1018 molecules/cm3, an SiH group content of less than 2×1017 molecules/cm3, a hydroxyl group content of 0.1 to 100 wt. ppm, and an Active temperature of less than 1070° C. The optical component undergoes a laser-induced change in the refractive index in response to irradiation by a radiation with a wavelength of 193 nm using 5×109 pulses with a pulse width of 125 ns and a respective energy density of 500 μJ/cm2 at a pulse repetition frequency of 2000 Hz. The change totals a first measured value M193 nm when measured using the applied wavelength of 193 nm and a second measured value M633 nm when measured using a measured wavelength of 633 nm. The ratio M193 nm/M633 nm is less than 1.7.
Abstract:
The Ti3+ ions present in Ti-doped silica glass cause a brown staining of the glass, causing inspection of the lens to become more difficult. Known methods for reducing Ti3+ ions in favor of Ti4+ ions in Ti-doped silica glass include a sufficiently high proportion of OH-groups and carrying out an oxygen treatment prior to vitrification, which both have disadvantages. In order to provide a cost-efficient production method for Ti-doped silica glass, which at a hydroxyl group content of less than 120 ppm shows an internal transmittance (sample thickness 10 mm) of at least 70% in the wavelength range of 400 nm to 1000 nm, the TiO2—SiO2 soot body is subjected to a conditioning treatment with a nitrogen oxide prior to vitrification. The blank produced in this way from Ti-doped silica glass has the ratio Ti3+/Ti4+≦5×10−4.
Abstract:
An optical component made of synthetic quartz glass includes a glass structure substantially free of oxygen defect sites and having a hydrogen content of 0.1×1016 to 1.0×1018 molecules/cm3, an SiH group content of less than 2×1017 molecules/cm3, a hydroxyl group content of 0.1 to 100 wt. ppm, and an Active temperature of less than 1070° C. The optical component undergoes a laser-induced change in the refractive index in response to irradiation by a radiation with a wavelength of 193 nm using 5×109 pulses with a pulse width of 125 ns and a respective energy density of 500 μJ/cm2 at a pulse repetition frequency of 2000 Hz. The change totals a first measured value M193nm when measured using the applied wavelength of 193 nm and a second measured value M633nm when measured using a measured wavelength of 633 nm. The ratio M193nm/M633nm is less than 1.7.
Abstract:
An easily producible optical fiber preform which is drawn to an optical fiber having a core containing a sufficient concentration of alkali metal is provided. An optical fiber preform 10 is composed of silica-based glass and includes a core portion 20 and a cladding portion 30. The core portion 20 includes a first core portion 21 including a central axis and a second core portion 22 disposed on the perimeter of the first core portion 21. The cladding portion 30 includes a first cladding portion 31 disposed on the perimeter of the second core portion 22 and a second cladding portion 32 disposed on the perimeter of the first cladding portion 31. The core portion 20 contains an alkali metal at an average concentration of 5 atomic ppm or more. The concentration of the OH group in the perimeter portion of the first cladding portion 31 is 200 mol ppm or more.
Abstract:
An easily producible optical fiber preform which is drawn to an optical fiber having a core containing a sufficient concentration of alkali metal is provided. An optical fiber preform 10 is composed of silica-based glass and includes a core portion 20 and a cladding portion 30. The core portion 20 includes a first core portion 21 including a central axis and a second core portion 22 disposed on the perimeter of the first core portion 21. The cladding portion 30 includes a first cladding portion 31 disposed on the perimeter of the second core portion 22 and a second cladding portion 32 disposed on the perimeter of the first cladding portion 31. The core portion 20 contains an alkali metal at an average concentration of 5 atomic ppm or more. The concentration of the OH group in the perimeter portion of the first cladding portion 31 is 200 mol ppm or more.