| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fiber element in which mechanical strength of a fusion spliced part is secured without depending on reinforcement by a steel wire and a method for manufacturing the optical fiber element. SOLUTION: Two optical fibers 10 and 20 are prepared (Fig. 1 (a)), coatings of resin 12 and 22 at end parts are removed to expose glass fibers 11 and 21 (Fig. 1 (b)), axial alignment is performed (Fig. 1 (c)), and a fusing process for fusing by heating respective end faces of the glass fibers 11 and 21 is performed (Fig. 1 (d)). In an additive diffusing process, a region including the fusion spliced part A is heat-treated at a first temperature T1 and additives which are added to the glass fibers 11 and 21 are diffused (Fig. 1 (e)). In a thermal distortion removing process, the region including the fusion spliced part A is heat-treated at a second temperature T2 lower than the first temperature T1 to remove thermal distortion (Fig. 1 (f)). In a gradual cooling process, the periphery of the fusion spliced part A is cooled from a prescribed initial temperature to 200 deg.C for a specified time or more (Fig. 1 (g)). |
