METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING QUARTZ GLASS, QUARTZ GLASS, OPTICAL FIBER GRATING, VARIABLE OPTICAL FILTER, AND OPTICAL SWITCH

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide quartz glass capable of quickly and freely controlling an index of refraction by repeating ultraviolet irradiation and heating, and to provide optical parts having various functions using the quartz glass.

SOLUTION: The quartz glass is manufactured by irradiating an ultraviolet ray under a pressure of hydrogen to the quartz glass containing a photosensitive material that causes the variation of an index of refraction by the ultraviolet irradiation, then hydrogenating the quartz glass, and thereafter repeating the ultraviolet irradiation and the heating. By repeating the ultraviolet irradiation and the heating, it is possible to realize the quartz glass that allows write-in and erase of the variation of an index of refraction. Using this quartz glass, it is possible to vary the transmittance or the reflectance against the incident light by varying the light intensity by varying the phase of the light propagating and to use it as a variable optical filter or an optical switch.

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