Optical module and method of forming the optical module

摘要

An object beam divided by a light dividing means 12 is caused to enter a photo-refractive polymer layer 6 through an optical fiber 23. On the other hand, a reference beam divided by the light dividing means 12 is irradiated on the photo-refractive polymer layer 6 through a lens 13 from the opposite side. In this manner, the object beam is superimposed on the reference beam in the photo-refractive polymer layer 6 to provide an interference fringe or pattern. Since a photo-refractive polymer has a specific characteristic whereby the refractive index changes according to the intensity of irradiation light and the change is fixed after the irradiation light is stopped, a diffraction grating 5 corresponding to the interference fringe is recorded on the photo-refractive polymer layer 6. This diffraction grating 5 exhibits a specific characteristic whereby the object beam emitted from the optical fiber 23 is emitted in the direction of the reference beam.