Abstract: A laser transmission system for transmitting laser beam to an optical fiber comprises a pulse laser oscillator unit, a beam guide unit having an optical condensing unit for condensing a pulse laser beam radiated from the pulse laser oscillator unit, an optical fiber unit for transmitting the pulse laser beam condensed by the optical fiber beam guide unit, and a device for reducing a coherence of the pulse laser beam provided for at least one of the pulse laser oscillator unit, the beam guide unit and the optical fiber unit. This coherence reducing device is for making substantially uniform distribution of laser beams at a beam entrance portion of the optical fiber unit and preventing the laser beams from focussing or converging on one point in the optical fiber unit.

Abstract: A porous glass rod is treated to include tungsten oxide and palladium in an arrangement that is sensitive to hydrogen to produce a color change that is a function of the hydrogen concentration. The rod is attached to the tip of a double fiber into one of which light is launched by a light source. A detector at the end of the second fiber is responsive to light reflected by the rod. The process for forming the rod includes the steps of doping the glass with a tungsten compound and a palladium compound with intervening and subsequent heating steps to bond the tungsten oxide and palladium to available oxygen atoms of the porous glass.

Abstract: Optical fiber for optically coupling a light radiation source to a multimode optical waveguide, and method for manufacturing it. Optical fiber for optically coupling a light radiation source (6) to a multimode optical waveguide (7) having an optical fiber core (2) for transmitting light waves, optical fiber cladding (3) enclosing the optical fiber core (2), an injection end face (4) of the optical fiber core (2) for injecting light emitted by the light radiation source (6) into the optical fiber core (2), an extraction end face (5) of the optical fiber core (2) for extracting light from the optical fiber core (2) into the multimode optical waveguide (7), the injection end face (4) of the optical fiber core being curved spherically inward in order to widen the radiation angle of the injected light.

Abstract: To ensure laser safety, also in the case of a largest possible coupled optical power, during the direct optical coupling of a light-emitted component to an optical waveguide, an optical system includes coupling the light through a fiber end configured as a multimode step index optical waveguide having a numeric aperture larger than the half-width value of the angular distribution of the radiation emitted from the radiation source. To distribute the radiation fed into the actual optical waveguide over the largest possible angular range with regard to the luminous power, the coupling of the light beam into the fiber end is effected such that the coupled light beams are inclined in relation to the geometric axis of the optical core of the fiber end at a defined angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for overcoming modal noise penalties associated with multi-mode fiber optic links operating at high data rates on the order of 10 Gb/s. The method involves restricting the center launch condition of optical signals into the multi-mode fiber while permitting loose tolerances between source and fiber.

Abstract: A particular signal from a legacy photonic source may have a distribution of wavelengths in a particular signal that is excessively broad for modern, narrowband equipment. In order to provide a drop-in apparatus for integrating modern narrowband signal carrying and handling devices with legacy equipment as either sender or receiver, various implementations of a data stabilizer are provided. Data stabilizers may rely on information transfer mechanisms, signal directors, wavelength shifters, cross-gain modulation, cross-phase modulation, and four-wave mixers. Moreover, data stabilizers may be implemented directly as multiplexers, or integrated into systems using conventional multiplexers.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical waveguide with at least one fiber, especially a synthetic fiber, glass or quartz fiber, where the fiber comprises a fiber end for coupling in light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of launching a light beam from a semiconductor laser into a multimode optical fiber, as well as apparatus for launching the light beam. The light beam is directed at nominally the center of the input face of the multimode fiber such that the (unguided) light beam makes an angle &thgr;b (typically in the range 1-20 degrees) with the direction perpendicular to the input face of the multimode fiber. The angle &thgr;b is selected such that at least one lower order mode of the guided radiation in the multimode fiber is substantially not excited in the fiber, with at least some higher order modes being substantially excited. Several specific embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical device for coupling an optical signal to an optical detector is disclosed. The optical device includes a mode compression section disposed between an optical input source and a photodetector, which enables efficient coupling between the optical input source and the photodetector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for detecting an analyte using a fiber optic electrochemical sensor that includes a fiber optic layer, an electrically conductive translucent metallic layer and a light energy absorbing dye layer.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an endface having a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface is formed at a first bias angle with respect to a plane that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The first reflective surface totally internally reflects an optical signal at a first reflection angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The second reflective surface is coupled to the first reflective surface and formed at a second bias angle with respect to the plane such that the second reflective surface totally internally reflects the optical signal at a selected second reflection angle.

Abstract: An optical fiber grating is manufactured by heating intermittently an optical fiber, provided with a core having residual stress in the longitudinal direction, softening a peripheral cladding of the core, and forming spatial periodical changes for the relative refractive index-difference between the core and the cladding, in the longitudinal direction of the aforementioned optical fiber by having the index of refraction of the core change, through the releasing of the aforementioned residual stress. As a result, an optical fiber grating and the manufacturing method thereof, which do not require expensive equipment and which exhibit high productivity, and furthermore a grating characteristic which is stable over time can be provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber pumping apparatus for use with a double-cladding fiber in an optical amplifier or laser configuration comprises a plurality of laser diodes used as pump sources disposed in a spatial configuration for radiating pump energy along an optical axis through a surrounding generally annular area, leaving an available middle area. The apparatus further comprises an optical coupling device having an optical input portion generally aligned with the optical axis to collect the pump energy and having an optical output portion aligned with the pumping input portion for transferring the pump energy to the inner cladding surrounding the doped core of the fiber. The apparatus exhibits high pump power rating and allows efficient input signal coupling in optical fiber amplifier applications. According to the different preferred embodiments, the apparatus can act either simultaneously or independently as a pump combiner, multiple pump injector, signal coupler or pump/signal multiplexer/demultiplexer.

Abstract: The optical component (4) is mounted on an optical chip in alignment with an optical fibre (1) which is mounted within a V-groove (2) formed in the chip, the optical component (4) has two non-parallel location surfaces (4A, 4B) which abut against corresponding location features (5, 6) on the chip to locate the component (4) in a first direction (Y-axis) substantially perpendicular to the plane of the chip and in a second direction (Z-axis) which is perpendicular to said first direction (Y-axis) and substantially perpendicular to the length (X-axis) of the V-groove (2), and the optical component (4) is mounted on the chip so as to overhang one end (2A) of the V-groove to enable the end (1A) of the optical fibre (1) to be brought into a close, abutting relationship with the component (4).

Abstract: There are provided a wavelength dispersion compensating method of reducing distortion of a transmitted waveform due to cross phase modulation in an optical transmission path, and an optical transmission system utilizing the method. To this end, the wavelength dispersion compensating method of the present invention sets the wavelength dispersion characteristic of the optical transmission path such that the time delay amount to occur between light signals of adjacent two wavelengths due to wavelength dispersion such as in one repeating section in the transmission path, to become ½ times of a bit interval, for the optical transmission path having transmission loss.

Abstract: An endface configuration of an optical fiber has a frustum region which is produced by polishing the endface. In order to produce the optimal rounded tip, however, the polished fiber is then fused. To increase coupling efficiency, the vertex angle of the polished frustum region is acute, preferably between 16 and 20°. Further, to create a hyperbolic endface surface, an intermediate frustum region is preferably polished prior to fusing tip. This fused tip is preferably has a circular cross-section.

Abstract: Optical fiber for optically coupling a light radiation source to a multimode optical waveguide, and method for manufacturing it.

Abstract: An optical transmission system having a transmitter which generates an optical signal and amplifies the optical signal, a receiver which receives a transmitted optical signal, and an optical fiber which receives and transmits amplified optical signal from the transmitter to the receiver. The optical fiber is a single-mode optical fiber and has an end face to be optically coupled through physical contact with another optical fiber. A transparent film made of a material having a melting temperature higher than a melting temperature of a material of the single-mode optical fiber is formed on the end face of the single-mode optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical waveguide sensor having high refractive index sensitivity over a range of ambient refractive indices is provided. The sensor comprises a core having at least one long period gating disposed therein. An inner and outer cladding region, each cladding region having an effective refractive index. The total effective refractive index of the inner cladding region and the outer cladding region is approximately equal to but not greater than the effective refractive index of an environmental parameter to be sensed. These optical waveguide sensors are useful for measuring changes in a variety of environmental parameters.

Abstract: A fiber collimator is provided, comprising at least two optical components, one of the optical components (e.g., an optical element such as a collimating lens or a plano-plano pellet) having a surface that has a comparatively larger cross-sectional area than the surface of the other optical component(s) (e.g., at least one optical fiber). The optical components are joined together by fusion-splicing, using a laser. A gradient in the index of refraction is provided in at least that portion of the surface of the optical element to which the optical fiber(s) is fusion-spliced or at the tip of the optical fiber. The gradient is either formed prior to or during the fusion-splicing. Back-reflection is minimized, pointing accuracy is improved, and power handling ability is increased.

Abstract: An optical waveguide sensor using an intermediate layer between the preformed optical core and the optical cladding material. This intermediate layer comprises a material that is doped with a sensor material to respond to an analyte of interest by luminescing or by developing optical absorption in the transmission region of the core fiber and that has a refractive index greater than the preformed core. Two configurations provide sensors for ionizing radiation capable of measuring the dose rate and the integrated deposited dose.

Abstract: A method of improving modal bandwidth in computer networks using multimode optical fiber and single mode sources is disclosed in which the optical signal from a center of the optical fiber is prevented from reaching the detector. This is accomplished according to a number of different techniques including the use of opaque spots on the fiber media/fiber couplers or the use of dark-cored fiber couplers. These configurations prevent pulse splitting that occurs in single mode source/multimode fiber systems by preventing light from the multimode fiber's center from interfering with the detector. When this is achieved, the detector is insulated from the effects of pulse splitting, supporting increased data rates by increasing the modal bandwidth.

Abstract: Coupling system between an optical waveguide (1) and an optical device (8) suitable for receiving and/or transmitting an optical beam having a first maximum MFR, comprising a single-mode optical fiber (1) having at one end a portion (10) of its core (2) expanded with a second MFR. An aspherical lens (6) is formed on said end of the fiber (1). Said aspherical lens comprises a pair of inclined surfaces (41, 42) which intersect on a line, generating an edge, in a position substantially corresponding to the center of said core (2), said edge is rounded to form an aspherical profile.

Abstract: A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system and method for making the same is disclosed in which microspheres or particles carrying bioactive agents may be combined randomly or in ordered fashion and dispersed on a substrate to form an array while maintaining the ability to identify the location of bioactive agents and particles within the array using an optically interrogatable, optical signature encoding scheme. A wide variety of modified substrates may be employed which provide either discrete or non-discrete sites for accommodating the microspheres in either random or patterned distributions. The substrates may be constructed from a variety of materials to form either two-dimensional or three-dimensional configurations. In a preferred embodiment, a modified fiber optic bundle or array is employed as a substrate to produce a high density array. The disclosed system and method have utility for detecting target analytes and screening large libraries of bioactive agents.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a WDM optical transmission system with an excellent transmission characteristic by employing a hybrid transmission line which is formed by combining under optimal conditions an optical fiber having positive wavelength dispersion, and an optical fiber having negative wavelength dispersion. According to the WDM optical transmission system, an optical transmitter station, optical amplifiers, and an optical receiver station are interconnected over an optical fiber transmission line. The optical fiber transmission line has an inter-repeater segment formed with a hybrid transmission line composed of a 1.3 &mgr;m zero-dispersion SMF and an RDF, and an inter-repeater segment formed with a DCF for compensating for cumulative wavelength dispersion generated in the hybrid transmission line. As the conditions for setting the hybrid transmission line, a ratio of the length of the RDF to the length of the inter-repeater segment must be 20% or more and 40% or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ferrule assembly capable of yielding a laser resonator which is less likely to be influenced by variations in manufacture and changes in its environment of use, and an optical module equipped with this ferrule assembly. The ferrule assembly comprises a fiber grating and a ferrule attached to a front end portion of the fiber grating. As one of structural features of the ferrule assembly, the portion of the fiber grating excluding a grating region is secured to a securing portion of the ferrule, whereas the grating region is accommodated in an accommodating portion of the ferrule in a state separated from the inner wall of the accommodating portion by a predetermined distance without being secured to the ferrule.

Abstract: An improved fiber endface shape for increasing coupling of optical power from a source into fiber and its manufacture are disclosed. The inventive tip comprises a cleaved end surface that is preferably substantially orthogonal to the fiber's axis and a first and second polished, angled surfaces intersecting the end surface. Break-lines between the angled surfaces and the end surface fall near an edge of a cladding-core interface and preferably outside that interface when the fiber and transmitted light are such that a substantial portion of the light is transmitted in the cladding. A spatial intensity profile of light exiting from the tip is detected during manufacture and is used to monitor the polishing of the angled surfaces. Tests have shown that the inventive tip achieves the coupling efficiency associated with the double-angled wedge-shaped fiber tips while maintaining much of the ease of manufacture associated with the single-angle wedge tips.

Abstract: An optical fiber 2 is spliced to an optical fiber 1 in a state that those optical fibers are axially shifted away from each other by an offset quantity D. With this splicing of the optical fibers, a coupling loss arises at a fusion splicing part 1c. A plurality of fusion splicing parts 1c are provided. The terminal part of the final optical fiber of serially spliced optical fibers is a non-reflection treating part 10. Light propagating through the optical fiber 1 is attenuated at the fusion splicing part, whereby non-reflection of light is realized. The back reflection light is also attenuated at the fusion splicing part, thereby reducing the amount of the back reflection light traveling back to the core 1a of the optical fiber 1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving optical signals in a bi-directional transmission system (1) using a common transmission medium (3). Laser radiation at the first wave length and intensity is directed from a laser source (4) to a non-linear optical device (6). The non-linear optical device (6) is responsive to radiation at the first wavelength and intensity is directed from a laser source (4) to non-linear optical device (6). The non-linear optical device (6) is responsive to radiation at the first wavelength and intensity to emit radiation of a second wavelength which is transmitted through the medium (3). The non-linear optical device (6) transmits incident radiation of the second wavelength have less than a selected intensity.

Abstract: Fiber-optic sensors and fiberless sensors are made for measuring analytes, in particular nitric oxide. The sensors contain a compound specific for the analyte such a nitric oxide-binding compound. Fiber-optic sensors contain the compound immobilized on the tip of the fiber. The tip may be coated with an inert coating such as a metal layer and the compound is immobilized on the coating. Nitric oxide-binding compounds include heme-binding proteins, porphyrin group-containing proteins, heme group-containing proteins, dye-labeled porphyrin group-containing proteins and dye-labeled heme group-containing proteins. In a specific embodiment, dye-labeled cytochrome c′ such as fluorescein-labeled cytochrome c′ is immobilized on a fiber tip containing a gold colloid layer. The fiberless sensors are small enough to enter a single mammalian cell relatively non-invasively.

Abstract: A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system and method for making the same is disclosed in which microspheres or particles carrying bioactive agents may be combined randomly or in ordered fashion and dispersed on a substrate to form an array while maintaining the ability to identify the location of bioactive agents and particles within the array using an optically interrogatable, optical signature encoding scheme. In a preferred embodiment, a modified fiber optic bundle or array is employed as a substrate to produce a high density array. The disclosed system and method have utility for detecting target analytes and screening large libraries of bioactive agents. In a preferred embodiment the methods include detecting a change in an optical property around a microsphere on an array.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical communication connector. A connector optically couples between a pair of plastic fibers and a pair of silica fibers, and a connector optically couples between the other ends of the silica fibers and a pair of plastic fibers. In such a construction, signal light is bidirectionally transmitted using these fibers. The connector is provided with one condenser lens within a casing. On the side of the transmission of signal light from the silica fiber to the plastic fiber, end surfaces of both cores P and Q are brought into intimate contact with each other. On the side of the transmission of signal light from the plastic fiber to the silica fiber, end surfaces of both cores P and Q are opposed to each other with the condenser lens interposed therebetween. The other connector is also constructed in a manner similar to the above connector.

Abstract: An optical header for coupling an edge emitter light source to an optical fiber is disclosed. The header preferably includes a ceramic or silicon substrate that has a recess for an edge emitting laser. An optical fiber is preferably attached to a substrate and terminates at a light source. The optical fiber is oriented such that the elliptical beam of light produced is situated such that the longer axis of the elliptical beam is orthogonal to the optical fiber. The header is particularly useful when used in conjunction with an optical receiver to form a bidirectional optical transceiver.

Abstract: A robust hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system incorporating a light source and two fiber optic media to thereby provide high temperature tolerance adjacent the light source and inexpensive and easily maintained light distribution to geographically independent illumination features downstream from the light source. The hybrid fiber optic distribution system includes a light source, a plurality of multi-stranded glass optical fiber (GOF) leads forming part of an optical jumper optically interfaced with the light source, and a plurality of solid core plastic optical fiber (POF) leads forming part of an optical distributor optically interfaced with the optical jumper which provide light distribution to various illumination features throughout the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A single-mode optical fiber for outputting high-power light wherein a diameter of a mode field at an output end of the optical fiber is made large to thereby lower a light power density. Material higher in thermal conductivity or melting temperature than material of the optical fiber is coated on the end face of the fiber. A thickness of the coating film is set to cause light wavelength to be phase-shifted by ¼ of the wavelength to reduce reflection at the connecting end face. The same type of optical fiber is used as a party optical fiber to be connected therewith.

Abstract: In order to improve a laser system comprising a fiber bundle consisting of single mode fibers which form with a first end a fiber bundle end, at which a total radiation field, which can be imaged onto a target surface, is formed from laser radiation exiting from the first ends of the fibers, and which are coupled with a second end to a subsystem generating the laser radiation with at least one semiconductor laser, such that this also operates efficiently with semiconductor lasers or semiconductor laser amplifiers and can be realized in an inexpensive manner it is suggested that the subsystem comprise a plurality of semiconductor laser units operating parallel, that all the semiconductor laser units of the subsystem operate with the same wavelength in a phase-balanced manner relative to one another as a result of master laser radiation coupled into them and that individual laser radiation exiting from the individual semiconductor laser units of the respective subsystem be combined by means of a coupling device

Abstract: A method for improving modal bandwidth in computer networks using multimode optical fiber and single mode sources is disclosed in which the optical signal from a center of the optical fiber is blocked from reaching detector. This is accomplished according to a number of different techniques including the use of opaque spots on the fiber media/fiber couplers or the use of dark-cored fiber couplers. These configurations prevent pulse splitting that occurs in single mode source/multimode fiber systems by preventing light from the multimode fiber's center from interfering with the detector. When this is achieved, the detector is insulated from the effects of any pulse splitting, supporting data rates of greater than one GBPS by increasing the modal bandwidth.

Abstract: A fiber light source having, for instance, a 980 nm pump laser for pumping an erbium-doped optical fiber via a 980/1550 nm WDM coupler. The pumped fiber emits 1550 nm light. A portion of the 1550 nm light goes to a filter via the WDM coupler. The filter shapes the spectrum of the 1550 nm light. The filter is a passive device that may be made from erbium-doped fiber. From the filter the 1550 nm light goes through an isolator or a circulator on to an optical device for which the light is specially made. Such device may be an fiber optic gyroscope. By adding a narrowband optical fiber grating at the output of the pump laser to tune its output, the fiber light source is further improved in stability under variations of ambient temperature and light source drive current.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor is provided which is useful for detecting impact, pressure or other forces, and has particular application in detecting the presence of a foreign object in an electronically operated vehicle window including a motor, a frame and a window pane movable in the frame between an open and a closed position. The sensor comprises a fiber optic having one end connected to a light source, with the other end being connected to a detector. In the fiber optic, there is located a sensing portion fiber which is preferably located in the frame of the window so as to modulate light traveling in an optical path in the fibre optic in response to detection of the foreign object which comes into contact therewith. The sensor further comprises a signal propagating means for transmitting a signal to the motor when the optical path is modulated so as to stop or reverse the motor.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer that has a wide wavelength passing band. This optical multiplexer/demultiplexer includes a substrate formed from a material with a uniform refractive index, a first and a second waveguide which are mounted to the substrate and are formed from a material with a refractive index higher than the substrate, and a directional coupler that is formed by placing each portions the first and second waveguides in close proximity to each other at a preselected length. Each of the portions of the first and second waveguides which are in close proximity are bisected into an upper region and a lower region in the one direction the light waves propagate. The propagation constant of the upper region of the first waveguide is set to be higher than the other portion and the propagation constant of the lower region of the second waveguide is set to be higher than the other portion. This allows expansion of the wavelength passing band.

Abstract: A cold coupling apparatus for receiving light from a source of illumination and transmission to the ends of one or more light-guiding fibers comprises a coupler body having an exit bore, an inner bore, an entry bore, and body threads, the exit bore and inner bore intersecting to form a lens shelf, and the entry bore and inner bore intersecting to form a fiber shelf; one or more lenses disposed within the exit bore and proximate to the lens shelf; a compression fitting threadedly engaged with the body threads; a collet disposed within the compression fitting; and one or more ferrules, each of the ferrules disposed within the entry bore and proximate to the fiber shelf. A bushing may also be disposed within the compression fitting, and the lenses may be coated to reflect infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation. The coupler body may be actively cooled, or may have heat sink fins attached to its exterior.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the operational bandwidth of a multimode optical fiber communications system is provided. The method comprises launching optical radiation into the core of the multimode fiber away from the center of the core so as to strongly excite mid order modes of the multimode fiber, but to only weakly excite low order and high order modes of the multimode fiber. The mid order modes excited are predominately within a small number of mode groups and thus have similar propagation constants. This leads to a reduction in modal dispersion and thus to a significant increase in bandwidth compared to an overfilled launch. The offset launch of the invention is tolerant both to the launch conditions and to any imperfections in the fiber refractive index profile. Modal noise performance is also enhanced. Embodiments of the invention employ a singlemode fiber, a multimode fiber or a lens to illuminate an end face of a multimode fiber with a small spot offset from the optical axis of the fiber.

Abstract: A microsphere-based analytic chemistry system is disclosed in which microspheres carrying different chemical functionalities may be mixed together while the ability is retained to identify the functionality on each bead using an optically interrogatable encoding scheme. An optical fiber bundle sensor is also disclosed in which the separate microspheres may be optically coupled to discrete fibers or groups of fibers within the bundle. The functionalies are encoded on the separate microspheres using fluorescent dyes and then affixed to wells etched in the end of the bundle. Thus, a single sensor may carry thousands of chemistries. Only those microspheres exhibiting reactions then need to be decoded to identify the corresponding functionality.

Abstract: An optical part packaging method and a collimator assembly method are provided. In the method for packaging an optical part having collimators which convert light emitted from a fine light source to a parallel light, and focus the transmitted parallel light, optical devices are bonded in the collimators by a conductive adhesive to increase the adhesiveness between the optical devices and the tensile strength of the optical devices. Then, the collimators are aligned in both sides of the optical part, a first housing, integrally formed, is bonded around the collimators by soldering to protect the optical devices and bond the collimators, and a second housing is bonded around the first housing by a waterproof and vibroisolating material to increase the mechanical strength of the first housing. Finally, protection tubes are bonded to the respective collimators by epoxy sealing to protect the ends of optical fibers in the collimators.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a small numerical aperture (NA) is optically coupled with a short birefringent crystal to provide a polarization beam splitter. This arrangement obviates the use of a GRIN lens coupled between an input optical fiber and the birefringent crystal and provides significant cost savings by allowing a short crystal to be used. In this invention, the birefringent crystal has a beam-shifting angle that is larger than the numerical aperture at the output end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A device for use in laser surgical procedures for moving axially an optical fiber element that is connected at its proximal end to a source of laser energy. The distal end of the fiber elements with a cooperating piercing tip member has a tapered configuration so that it is capable of penetrating soft tissue of membrane such as the myocardium or epicardium of a human heart during the revascularization procedure. Various combinations of bundled optical fiber elements are disclosed which provide different tapered distal end designs that can be used in various surgical procedures.

Abstract: Optical fiber sensors and fiberless optical sensors for measuring analytes, and in particular nitric oxide, are described utilizing metals, and more particularly, metal colloids. Proteins (or fragments thereof) with selective binding are immobilized on metal particles. The proteins may be dye-labeled for increased sensitivity.

Abstract: An optical switch 1 of the present invention comprises an optical fiber arraying member 21 for keeping a plurality of first optical fibers 20 juxtaposed with tip portions thereof being aligned, a movable arm 31, opposed to the optical fiber arraying member, for holding a tip portion of at least one second optical fiber 30, a driving mechanism 40 for driving this movable arm 31 to selectively optically coupling the second optical fiber 30 with an arbitrary first optical fiber 20, a supplying mechanism 60 for, when a first optical fiber 20 is optically coupled with the second optical fiber, dropping and charging an index matching agent to a gap between these optical fibers 20, 30, and drop controllers 67, 68 for controlling the supplying mechanism 60, wherein the index matching agent is dropped and charged into only the gap between the optical fibers, so that foreign matter produced in the driving mechanism 40 or the like is prevented from intruding into the coupling part between the optical fibers 20, 30, thus

Abstract: An optical waveguide of an optical deflector comprising a planar optical waveguide or an optical fiber type optical waveguide is cut while perpendicularly pressing a blade having a blade tip with an angle of inclination against the optical waveguide at a desired location thereof to form an oblique end face serviceable as an oblique end face mirror.

Abstract: A single-mode optical fiber for outputting high-power light wherein a diameter of a mode field at an output end of the optical fiber is made large to thereby lower a light power density. Material higher in thermal conductivity or melting temperature than material of the optical fiber is coated on the end face of the fiber. A thickness of the coating film is set to cause light wavelength to be phase-shifted by 1/4 of the wavelength to reduce reflection at the connecting end face. The same type of optical fiber is used as a party optical fiber to be connected therewith.