A multi-fiber light guide includes: light guiding fibers, each fiber including an elongated glass core; a glass cladding, the cores being surrounded by the cladding to form a rigid and continuous glass element, the cores having a higher refractive index than the cladding such that light can be guided by a total reflection along the cores, which end in two abutting faces of the glass element such that light can be guided along the cores from one abutting face to the other abutting face; and an ion exchange layer at each of the abutting faces, the glass of the cores and the glass of the cladding including alkali ions, which are at least partly exchanged by alkali ions of a higher atomic number within the ion exchange layer at the abutting faces, the exchanged alkali ions within the ion exchange layer imparting a compressive stress at the abutting faces.

A multi-fiber light guide includes: light guiding fibers, each fiber including an elongated glass core; a glass cladding, the cores being surrounded by the cladding to form a rigid and continuous glass element, the cores having a higher refractive index than the cladding such that light can be guided by a total reflection along the cores, which end in two abutting faces of the glass element such that light can be guided along the cores from one abutting face to the other abutting face; and an ion exchange layer at each of the abutting faces, the glass of the cores and the glass of the cladding including alkali ions, which are at least partly exchanged by alkali ions of a higher atomic number within the ion exchange layer at the abutting faces, the exchanged alkali ions within the ion exchange layer imparting a compressive stress at the abutting faces.

An electrically conductive article that includes a monolithic glass body having a first primary surface; and an electrically conducting element formed in the body. The element includes a discrete layer, or a plurality of discrete layers, of metallic silver. Each layer has a thickness T such that 0.1 mT0.5 m and an electrical resistivity of about 50 n.Math.m to about 2000 n.Math.m. In addition, the element is spaced apart from the first primary surface by a distance D, wherein 0.1 mD20 m. In some aspects, the electrically conducting element and/or the monolithic glass body are configured as an antenna assembly, an optical fiber or a flexible glass substrate.

An electrically conductive article that includes a monolithic glass body having a first primary surface; and an electrically conducting element formed in the body. The element includes a discrete layer, or a plurality of discrete layers, of metallic silver. Each layer has a thickness T such that 0.1 mT0.5 m and an electrical resistivity of about 50 n.Math.m to about 2000 n.Math.m. In addition, the element is spaced apart from the first primary surface by a distance D, wherein 0.1 mD20 m. In some aspects, the electrically conducting element and/or the monolithic glass body are configured as an antenna assembly, an optical fiber or a flexible glass substrate.

A multi-fiber light guide includes: light guiding fibers, each fiber including an elongated glass core; a glass cladding, the cores being surrounded by the cladding to form a rigid and continuous glass element, the cores having a higher refractive index than the cladding such that light can be guided by a total reflection along the cores, which end in two abutting faces of the glass element such that light can be guided along the cores from one abutting face to the other abutting face; and an ion exchange layer at each of the abutting faces, the glass of the cores and the glass of the cladding including alkali ions, which are at least partly exchanged by alkali ions of a higher atomic number within the ion exchange layer at the abutting faces, the exchanged alkali ions within the ion exchange layer imparting a compressive stress at the abutting faces.

A multi-fiber light guide includes: light guiding fibers, each fiber including an elongated glass core; a glass cladding, the cores being surrounded by the cladding to form a rigid and continuous glass element, the cores having a higher refractive index than the cladding such that light can be guided by a total reflection along the cores, which end in two abutting faces of the glass element such that light can be guided along the cores from one abutting face to the other abutting face; and an ion exchange layer at each of the abutting faces, the glass of the cores and the glass of the cladding including alkali ions, which are at least partly exchanged by alkali ions of a higher atomic number within the ion exchange layer at the abutting faces, the exchanged alkali ions within the ion exchange layer imparting a compressive stress at the abutting faces.