Lightguiding in photochromic glasses

Lightguiding in ion-exchanged photochromic glass layers is reported. The guides were formed by ion exchange of Ag+ for Na+ or by outdiffusion of F. Guide attenuation was less than 0.2 dB/cm in many cases. The attenuation in the guide was varied over a range of δα = 30 dB/cm by illuminating the guide with () uv radiation to darken the guide or order of seconds. © 1975 Optical Society of America.