Physics in the Glass Industry

Abstract

IT is in keeping with the transparent nature of the substance that the first physical properties of glass to receive conscious study in comparatively modern times should be the optical properties. The problem of dispersion in the simple telescope lens found a partial solution in the achromatic lens combination of John Dollond in 1758, and the subsequent development of lens systems, in. which the correction of chromatic aberration is still more complete, has involved the utilization of glasses of different and precisely known refractive indexes and dispersions. The work of Guinand, of Faraday, of Harcourt and of Schott was in all cases concerned with the production of better glasses of constant optical properties, or of new glasses permitting a wider range of optical properties for use in combinations.