Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for preparing visible light optical polarizers using a non-halide silver salt and any glass composition that the non-halide silver salts is soluble, provided that the glass composition, including the silver salt, was a halide content that is, on a molar basis, 10% or less than the silver content, on a molar basis, of the glass composition. The silver containing glass is hydrogen reduced prior to stretching to form an optical polarizer. The invention enables one to form a visible light polarizer having a polarizing layer thickness in the range 10-40 ?m in which the silver particles have a surround index sufficiently removed from the blue polarizer region to allow good contrast.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a silver-containing polarizing boroaluminosilicate glass composition that has been doped with a noble metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Rh and Ru, including mixtures thereof,to nucleate and precipitate silver ions to silver metal without the need for a reducing atmosphere step. The invention is further directed to a method for making the glass composition of the invention. Using the composition and method of the invention, one can prepare a glass having a selected null transmission range.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a silver-containing polarizing boroaluminosilicate glass composition that has been doped with a noble metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Rh and Ru, including mixtures thereof, to nucleate and precipitate silver ions to silver metal without the need for a reducing atmosphere step. The invention is further directed to a method for making the glass composition of the invention. Using the composition and method of the invention, one can prepare a glass having a selected null transmission range.

Abstract: A method for the production of glass suitable for use in an optical fiber, by (1) dissolving an optically active component in a solvent to form a solution; (2) mixing the solution and a powder substrate, wherein the powder substrate is insoluble in the solvent; and (3) melting the solution and powder substrate to form glass at a temperature or temperature range that causes melt viscosities at less than or equal to 100,000 poise. A glass made by such a method and an optical fiber comprising such a glass. An optical fiber having optically active ions having an unbleachable loss of 1% or less of the peak of absorption.