Provided is a conductive paste for forming a solar cell electrode containing a glass frit component (A) as glass frit (II), the glass frit component (A) containing the following in the content ratio to the total molar number in terms of oxide: (a) 30 to 70 mol % of tellurium element, (b) 18 to 30 mol % of tungsten element, (c) 5 to 30 mol % of zinc element, (d) 1 to 15 mol % of boron element, (e) 0.3 to 5 mol % of aluminum element, (f) 0.3 to 7 mol % of one or more selected from rare earth elements in terms of oxide, and (g) 0.1 to 7 mol % of one or more selected from the group consisting of tin, lithium, and barium elements in terms of oxide.

The conductive paste may have better electric characteristics and a small variation in the characteristics even at a relatively low firing temperature (for example, 760 C.).

An optical glass has a refractive index (n.sub.d) of 1.55 or more. A difference (TfTg) between a fictive temperature (Tf) and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the optical glass is 0 C. or more. The optical glass may have a crack initiation load L of 350 mN or more.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a neutron-absorbing material which has high neutron absorption performance, is less apt to suffer structural degradation caused by irradiation with neutrons or rays, and has satisfactory water resistance. The glass composition according to the present invention is characterized by containing Gd2O3, B2O3, CeO2, and Bi2O3 when the components are expressed in terms of oxide, the total amount of Gd2O3 and B2O3 being 65 mol % or greater in terms of oxide amount.

An optical material for a light guide plate has a refractive index of 1.70 or more, a thickness of 1.1 mm or less, and a waviness of a surface of less than 5010.sup.4 degrees. The optical material may have the waviness of from 1.010.sup.4 to 1010.sup.4 degrees. The optical material may contain glass.

An optical material for a light guide plate has a refractive index of 1.70 or more, a thickness of 1.1 mm or less, and a waviness of a surface of less than 5010.sup.4 degrees. The optical material may have the waviness of from 1.010.sup.4 to 1010.sup.4 degrees. The optical material may contain glass.

Provided is a magneto-optic element that enables easy size reduction of an optical isolator. A magneto-optic element is formed of two or more magnetic members joined together.

Provided is a magneto-optic element that enables easy size reduction of an optical isolator. A magneto-optic element is formed of two or more magnetic members joined together.

Optically transparent glass ceramic materials comprising a glass phase containing and a crystalline tungsten bronze phase comprising nanoparticles and having the formula M.sub.xWO.sub.3, where M includes at least one H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cu, Ag, Sn, Cd, In, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and U, and where 0<x<1. Aluminosilicate and zinc-bismuth-borate glasses comprising at least one of Sm.sub.2O.sub.3, Pr.sub.2O.sub.3, and Er.sub.2O.sub.3 are also provided.

Provided is a glass material having high light transmittance at operating wavelengths. A glass material containing, in terms of oxide by mole %, 5 to 40% Tb.sub.2O.sub.3 and being substantially free of Sb.sub.2O.sub.3 and As.sub.2O.sub.3, wherein a proportion of Tb.sup.3+ to a total amount of Tb is 55% by mole or more.

The invention provides a high-refraction low-dispersion optical glass with refractive index of 1.76-1.80 and Abbe number of 47-51. The optical glass, comprising the following components by weight percentage: 0-3% of SiO.sub.2; 25-40% of B.sub.2O.sub.3; 20-40% of La.sub.2O.sub.3; 12-25% of Gd.sub.2O.sub.3; 6.5-15% of ZrO.sub.2; greater than 10% but less than or equal to 20% of ZnO; 0-5% of Ta.sub.2O.sub.5; 0-5% of Nb.sub.2O.sub.5; 0-10% of Li.sub.2O; less than 0.45 of (Ta.sub.2O.sub.5+Nb.sub.2O.sub.5)/(ZnO+Li.sub.2O); 0-10% of Y.sub.2O.sub.3; and below 625 C. of glass transition temperature Tg. With reasonable component ratio, the high-refraction low-dispersion optical glass favorable to precision molding with excellent transmittance can be easily enabled while realizing the required optical constant of the glass of the present invention.