Abstract: A delay interferometer includes first and second optical paths into which incident signal light is split, a first converter including one or more conversion parts to convert the signal light on the first optical path into circularly polarized light and to convert the circularly polarized light into linearly polarized signal light, a phase adjuster to shift an optical phase of the circularly polarized light through a magneto-optic effect, and a second converter to convert a polarization state of the signal light on the second optical path into substantially the same polarization state as a polarization state of the linearly polarized signal light.

Abstract: The optical switch is capable of supervising the performance of optical switching in standby channels, and includes: a collimator unit; an optical splitter; a light-gathering unit; and a rotatable mirror. The optical switch further includes: a mirror angle controlling unit which controls a reflection face angle of the rotatable mirror for each wavelength to switch ON/OFF of the light beam coupling to the optical output port for each wavelength reflected, and determines an optical output port position outputting light beams of the reflected wavelengths; and a monitor unit, installed on a return path of a light beam, which monitors a light beam whose optical coupling is made OFF.

Abstract: A delay interferometer includes first and second optical paths into which incident signal light is split, a first converter including one or more conversion parts to convert the signal light on the first optical path into circularly polarized light and to convert the circularly polarized light into linearly polarized signal light, a phase adjuster to shift an optical phase of the circularly polarized light through a magneto-optic effect, and a second converter to convert a polarization state of the signal light on the second optical path into substantially the same polarization state as a polarization state of the linearly polarized signal light.

Abstract: A wavelength dispersion compensation device includes an etalon 100 having a slab shape. Reflective films are formed on each side of the etalon 100. The reflective films respectively have predetermined reflectance. Reflectance of one of the reflective films differs according to a light incident angle by using a portion of light within a wavelength range to be used with which a filter characteristic in which transmittance rapidly changes is obtained.

Abstract: The optical switch is capable of supervising the performance of optical switching in standby channels, and includes: a collimator unit; an optical splitter; a light-gathering unit; and a rotatable mirror. The optical switch further includes: a mirror angle controlling unit which controls a reflection face angle of the rotatable mirror for each wavelength to switch ON/OFF of the light beam coupling to the optical output port for each wavelength reflected, and determines an optical output port position outputting light beams of the reflected wavelengths; and a monitor unit, installed on a return path of a light beam, which monitors a light beam whose optical coupling is made OFF.

Abstract: A small size and low cost optical receiving apparatus, which can stably demodulate the signal, lights in accordance with the differential M-phase shift keying (DMPSK) system. An optical receiving apparatus comprises a light branching unit for branching the differential M-phase shift keying signal beam into four signal light beams, a delay adjusting unit giving a delay time difference of one symbol between a first signal light beam and a second signal light beam and between a third signal light beam and a fourth signal light beam, a demodulating unit for outputting a least two demodulated light signals through respective interferences between the first signal light beam and the second signal light beam, and between the third signal light beam and the fourth signal light beam on one plane which is not parallel to any signal light beam, and at least two optical detectors for converting at least two light signals into electrical signals.

Abstract: A polarization controlling apparatus includes a permanent magnet itself or a permanent magnet to which a part capable of being magnetized is applied, an electromagnet capable of changing the magnitude of a magnetic field to be generated thereby, and a Faraday rotation effect element. The Faraday rotation effect element is disposed at a position at which an interaction magnetic field acts on the Faraday rotation effect element. The interaction magnetic field is produced by an interaction between a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet and a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet. The Faraday rotation effect element thereby produces a Faraday rotation effect on inputted light. The magnitude of the interaction magnetic field in the Faraday rotation effect element is varied by a magnetic field component generated by the electromagnet to vary the amount of the Faraday rotation effect to be had on the inputted light.

Abstract: An optical element including a dielectric multilayer film according to the present invention is configured such that the dielectric multilayer film is deposited onto one of faces of a substrate transparent to an incident light, and further, a stress relaxation film is deposited onto a surface of the dielectric multilayer film. The stress relaxation film includes an opening portion in a region through which the light can be passed, and is made of a material by which a direction of stress occurring in an interface to the dielectric multilayer film is consistent with a direction of stress occurring in an interface between the substrate and the dielectric multilayer film. As a result, a part of the stress occurring in the interface between the substrate and the dielectric multilayer film is negated by the stress occurring in the interface between the stress relaxation film and the dielectric multilayer film, so that an occurrence of curvature due the stress can be suppressed.

Abstract: A housing 20 is equipped for supporting, from a side, a platform of a wavelength selection device comprising an input/output port 10, a collimator 11, an expanding optical system 12, a spectroscopic element, a collecting optical system 14 and a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) mirror array 15. Because the above noted optical member is supported from the side only, influences of a thermal expansion is limited to the height direction of the optical member and the optical axis direction. By these aspects, the influence of thermal expansion is limited to a two-dimensional from a common three-dimensional, thereby enabling a design of a countermeasure to an influence of a thermal expansion. Also, the support from the side does not create a dead space thereby making the wavelength selection device compact.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch of the present invention separates a WDM light emitted from an input port of an input and output optical system, according to wavelengths, by a diffraction grating, and thereafter, condenses the lights of respective wavelengths on MEMS mirrors respectively corresponding to the respective wavelengths, in a mirror array, to reflect them by a condenser optical system, to thereby switch optical paths for the respective lights. The condenser optical system is configured by combining a plurality of lenses whose focal distances are different from each other, and positions in an optical axis direction of the lenses are adjustable by a slide mechanism. Thus, despite an error in the focal distances of the condenser lenses, in a mounting angle of a spectral element or the like, a beam pitch at the condensing positions of the lights of respective wavelengths can be coincident with a mirror pitch in the mirror array.

Abstract: A polarization controlling apparatus is disclosed, which enhances the degree of freedom in apparatus design. The polarization controlling apparatus includes a permanent magnet itself or a permanent magnet to which a part capable of being magnetized is applied, an electromagnet capable of changing the magnitude of a magnetic field to be generated thereby, and a Faraday rotation effect element, disposed at a position at which an interaction magnetic field produced by an interaction between a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet and a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet acts, for producing a Faraday rotation effect on inputted light by means of the interaction magnetic field. The magnitude of the interaction magnetic field in the Faraday rotation effect element is varied by a magnetic field component generated by the electromagnet to vary the amount of the Faraday rotation effect to be had on the inputted light.

Abstract: A wavelength dispersion compensation device includes an etalon 100 having a slab shape. Reflective films are formed on each side of the etalon 100. The reflective films respectively have predetermined reflectance. Reflectance of one of the reflective films differs according to a light incident angle by using a portion of light within a wavelength range to be used with which a filter characteristic in which transmittance rapidly changes is obtained.

Abstract: A housing 20 is equipped for supporting, from a side, a platform of a wavelength selection device comprising an input/output port 10, a collimator 11, an expanding optical system 12, a spectroscopic element, a collecting optical system 14 and a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) mirror array 15. Because the above noted optical member is supported from the side only, influences of a thermal expansion is limited to the height direction of the optical member and the optical axis direction. By these aspects, the influence of thermal expansion is limited to a two-dimensional from a common three-dimensional, thereby enabling a design of a countermeasure to an influence of a thermal expansion. Also, the support from the side does not create a dead space thereby making the wavelength selection device compact.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch of the present invention separates a WDM light emitted from an input port of an input and output optical system, according to wavelengths, by a diffraction grating, and thereafter, condenses the lights of respective wavelengths on MEMS mirrors respectively corresponding to the respective wavelengths, in a mirror array, to reflect them by a condenser optical system, to thereby switch optical paths for the respective lights. The condenser optical system is configured by combining a plurality of lenses whose focal distances are different from each other, and positions in an optical axis direction of the lenses are adjustable by a slide mechanism. Thus, despite an error in the focal distances of the condenser lenses, in a mounting angle of a spectral element or the like, a beam pitch at the condensing positions of the lights of respective wavelengths can be coincident with a mirror pitch in the mirror array.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an optical apparatus of VIPA-type for achieving the reduction of the inter-channel loss deviation to realize a high accurate demultiplexing function. To this end, the optical apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a collimator lens converting an input light into a parallel light; a phase mask changing a phase of the parallel light from the collimator lens to change the intensity distribution into a shape different from the Gaussian distribution; a line focal lens condensing the light output from the phase mask onto a one-dimensional direction; and a VIPA plate multi-reflecting the light condensed by the line focal lens to emit the multi-reflected light.

Abstract: A small size and low cost optical receiving apparatus, which can stably demodulate the signal, lights in accordance with the differential M-phase shift keying (DMPSK) system. An optical receiving apparatus comprises a light branching unit for branching the differential M-phase shift keying signal beam into four signal light beams, a delay adjusting unit giving a delay time difference of one symbol between a first signal light beam and a second signal light beam and between a third signal light beam and a fourth signal light beam, a demodulating unit for outputting a least two demodulated light signals through respective interferences between the first signal light beam and the second signal light beam, and between the third signal light beam and the fourth signal light beam on one plane which is not parallel to any signal light beam, and at least two optical detectors for converting at least two light signals into electrical signals.

Abstract: A variable optical filter comprises a first polarizer, a first phase difference element operable to generate a phase difference, a variable Faraday rotator operable to impart a variable Faraday rotation, a second phase difference element operable to generate a phase difference, and a second polarizer, wherein said polarizers, said variable Faraday rotator, and said phase difference elements are arranged in the mentioned order along the optical axis, and wherein when the angles formed by the optic axes of said first and second phase difference elements and the transmitted polarization azimuth of the first polarizer are assumed respectively to be ?1 and ?2, these ?1 and ?2 are set to different angles.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an optical communication system which keeps the confidentiality of information at the optical level to ensure the high safety. To this end, the optical communication system according to the present invention comprises: a PMD providing apparatus that gives the polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) which is changed in accordance with a variable pattern previously determined between an optical sender and an optical receiver to an optical signal output from the optical sender; to send the optical signal to an optical line network; and a PMD restoring apparatus that gives the PMD negating the PMD provided by the PMD providing apparatus to the optical signal propagated through the optical line network and restores the optical signal to the state at the transmission time, to send it to the optical receiver.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an optical apparatus of VIPA-type for achieving the reduction of the inter-channel loss deviation to realize a high accurate demultiplexing function. To this end, the optical apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a collimator lens converting an input light into a parallel light; a phase mask changing a phase of the parallel light from the collimator lens to change the intensity distribution into a shape different from the Gaussian distribution; a line focal lens condensing the light output from the phase mask onto a one-dimensional direction; and a VIPA plate multi-reflecting the light condensed by the line focal lens to emit the multi-reflected light.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an optical communication system which keeps the confidentiality of information at the optical level to ensure the high safety. To this end, the optical communication system according to the present invention comprises: a PMD providing apparatus that gives the polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) which is changed in accordance with a variable pattern previously determined between an optical sender and an optical receiver to an optical signal output from the optical sender; to send the optical signal to an optical line network; and a PMD restoring apparatus that gives the PMD negating the PMD provided by the PMD providing apparatus to the optical signal propagated through the optical line network and restores the optical signal to the state at the transmission time, to send it to the optical receiver.

Abstract: A biological implantable pressure sensor element comprises a fixed volume pouch formed by a sealed, flexible, impermeable membrane comprising therewithin a gel mass contained in a gel volume, said gel being hydrated with an aqueous solution comprising an agent having at least a first and a second NMR-detectable form, the proportion of the first to the second form of the agent in the gel volume being determined by their electrolytic interaction with the gel, whereby when an external pressure is applied to the sensor element a d (chemical shift)/d(.sigma./K) greater than 0.0001 ppm is attained, wherein .sigma. is the external pressure and K is the modulus of the gel. A kit contains sterile, individually wrapped sensor elements.