Optical splitter having a self-contained optical source

摘要

An optical splitter having a self-contained optical source with the optical core of the splitter being substantially numerical aperture matched to the optical source and to optical fibers connected to the splitter. By matching numerical apertures, efficient transfer of optical energy is achieved between the optical source and the connected optical fibers in spite of refractive index mismatch between the optical core and the connected optical fibers. The splitter is fabricated by inserting the optical source and optical fibers into a rigid cladding structure and filling the rigid cladding structure with a polymer which after curing becomes an optical core for communicating light from the optical source to the optical fibers.