OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE ARRAY AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

摘要

A glass material (7) having a natural absorption in a wavelength range longer than 360 nm and containing metal particles, semiconductor particles, transition metal ions, rare-earth ions, and anions is irradiated with a pulse laser beam (5). The focal point (9) of the laser beam (5) is so adjusted as to be inside the glass material (7). A change portion where the refractive index has changed and the natural absorption in a wavelength region longer than 360 nm has decreased is continuously formed. The optical characteristics of the change portion are greatly different from those of the unchanged portion, and consequently the material is used for optical waveguides.