OPTICAL FIBER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

摘要

Disclosed is an optical fiber wherein a core member can be excited by more excitation lights and a laser beam can be obtained more efficiently. An optical fiber (1) comprising a core member (30) containing a laser active material and arranged in the longitudinal direction and a cladding member (10) covering at least a part of the core member (30) is characterized in that a plurality of the core members (30) are arranged in the optical fiber (1) along the longitudinal direction thereof so that the core members (30) are located in the peripheral portion of the cladding member (10) in a cross section of the optical fiber (1) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In this connection, a plurality of the core members (30) may be arranged in the optical fiber (1) or a single core member (30) may be arranged therein in such a manner that it turns around a plurality of times along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber (1).