DEVICE HAVING NON-MECHANICAL OPTICAL FIBER SWITCH

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a non-mechanical optical fiber switch which is stronger with a preferable shape by providing this switch with a specific tubular magnet having a bore on its axis and arranging a magneto-optical optical element on the outer side of this bore. SOLUTION: A radiation path changing means has a magneto-optical element 28 which directs radiation selectively between one or the other of a switch port 21 of a first type and switch ports 221, 222 of a second type and the magnet 25 which applies a magnetic field thereon. The magnet 25 is the tubular magnet having the axial bore and is so arranged that the radiation path between the switch port 21 of the first type and the switch ports 221, 222 of the second type passes the axial bore. The magnet optical element 28 is arranged on the outer side of the bore of the magnet 25. The magnet 25 consists of a magnetically anisotropic material which is 100 to 300Oe of coercive force Hc at 20 deg.C and at least 10kG of residual induction Br.