Abstract: The present invention relates a method for manufacturing an optical coupler/splitter. A Y-shaped waveguide core is formed by focusing a laser beam into a cladding layer that is formed from a glass material. At least one portion of this Y-shaped waveguide core other than the input port and the output ports is treated as a refractive index adjustment area. After the portions of the Y-shaped waveguide core other than the refractive index adjustment area have been formed by focusing a laser beam, signal light is inputted into the input port of the Y-shaped waveguide core and the signal light outputted from the output ports of the Y-shaped waveguide core are monitored. The refractive index of the refractive index adjustment area is determined based on the result of the monitoring and is adjusted by focusing a laser beam repeatedly.

Abstract: When an optical waveguide is formed by focused femtosecond laser pulses in a pure silica glass to induce a refractive index increase region, a pulse width of femtosecond laser pulses are changed, a peak power of femtosecond laser pulses at the focal point is changed, or both the pulse width and the peak power are changed simultaneously. Under conditions where a pulse width of the femtosecond laser pulses is in a range of 210 to 420 fs and a peak power at the focal point is not greater than 8.7×1011 W/cm2, an optical waveguide having a mode field of 10 to 14 ?m such that an aspect ratio is 1 (one) can be obtained. By doing this, it is possible to control a mode field diameter of an optical waveguide and an aspect ratio of the mode field diameter.

Abstract: When an optical waveguide is formed by focused femtosecond laser pulses in a pure silica glass to induce a refractive index increase region, a pulse width of femtosecond laser pulses are changed, a peak power of femtosecond laser pulses at the focal point is changed, or both the pulse width and the peak power are changed simultaneously. Under conditions where a pulse width of the femtosecond laser pulses is in a range of 210 to 420 fs and a peak power at the focal point is not greater than 8.7×1011 W/cm2, an optical waveguide having a mode field of 10 to 14 &mgr;m such that an aspect ratio is 1 (one) can be obtained. By doing this, it is possible to control a mode field diameter of an optical waveguide and an aspect ratio of the mode field diameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for manufacturing an optical coupler/splitter. A Y-shaped waveguide core is formed by focusing a laser beam into a cladding layer that is formed from a glass material. At least one portion of this Y-shaped waveguide core other than the input port and the output ports is treated as a refractive index adjustment area. After the portions of the Y-shaped waveguide core other than the refractive index adjustment area have been formed by focusing a laser beam, signal light is inputted into the input port of the Y-shaped waveguide core and the signal light outputted from the output ports of the Y-shaped waveguide core are monitored. The refractive index of the refractive index adjustment area is determined based on the result of the monitoring and is adjusted by focusing a laser beam repeatedly.