METHOD FOR CONNECTING MULTI-CORE FIBER, MULTI-CORE FIBER, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-CORE FIBER

摘要

A multi-core fiber (1) has a plurality of cores (3) disposed at predetermined intervals, and has the circumference of the multi-core fiber covered with a cladding (5). The multi-core fiber (1) is provided with a marker (7) such that the marker is separated from the core (3). The marker (7) has a refractive index different from that of the core (3) and that of the cladding (5). For instance, the marker (7) may be configured of a material having a refractive index lower than that of the cladding (5). In such case, for instance, the core (3) may be configured of germanium-doped quartz, the cladding (5) may be configured of pure quartz, and the marker (7) may be configured of fluorine-doped quartz. Furthermore, the marker (7) may be a hole.