Definition

Noun: * A specialized type of glass: A clear, homogeneous glass manufactured with precise control over its optical properties, primarily its refractive index and dispersion. It is designed to transmit light with minimal distortion and is used to make lenses and prisms for optical instruments.

Usage

• Optical glass is the fundamental material for crafting precision lenses.
• The quality of an optical system, like a camera or microscope, depends heavily on the purity and consistency of the optical glass used.
• Different types of optical glass (e.g., crown glass, flint glass) are combined in lens designs to correct chromatic aberration.

Examples

• The laboratory ordered a new batch of high-index optical glass for the telescope project.
• Advances in optical glass production have led to lighter and more powerful camera lenses.
• This prism is made from a special optical glass that minimizes light absorption.

Advanced Usage

• Optical glass is characterized by its Abbe number, which quantifies its dispersion.
• The term is often used in contrast to common window or container glass, emphasizing its specialized formulation and superior clarity.

Variants and Related Words

• Crown Glass: A type of optical glass with low refractive index and low dispersion.
• Flint Glass: A type of optical glass containing lead oxide, giving it a high refractive index and high dispersion.
• Optical Crown
• Optical Flint

Synonyms

• Optical-quality glass
• Lens glass

Related Phrases

• Optical glass blank: A rough, molded piece of optical glass before it is ground and polished into a lens.
• Optical glass melting: The high-temperature process of manufacturing optical glass.

Noun

1. clear homogeneous glass of known refractive index; used to make lenses