JP2006078546A - High density optical comb filter and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high density optical comb filter in which a compact and high density comb type filter is simply manufactured and to provide a method of manufacturing the high density optical comb filter. <P>SOLUTION: Subgratings (sub FGB30) are arranged between cores 14 of a photosensitive optical fiber at a predetermined space. A super lattice structure fiber grating (SSFBG) is formed and two SSFBG are formed by arranging a sub FBG32 having Bragg wavelength λ<SB>2</SB>between the sub FBG30 having Bragg wavelength λ<SB>1</SB>. The reflection peak of the comb reflection characteristic is made high density with the interleave type super lattice structure fiber grating (ISSFBG). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-density optical comb filter and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a high-density optical comb filter and a manufacturing method thereof for increasing the density of comb-type reflection characteristics of a superlattice grating by interleaving.

  In recent years, research has been conducted toward the realization of an all-optical network, and various optical signal processing techniques are required. An optical device called a Bragg grating is known as one of the means for implementing optical signal processing technology, in which a diffraction grating is formed by changing the refractive index in the core of a one-dimensional optical waveguide such as an optical fiber. Among them, a device in which a diffraction grating is formed in the core of an optical fiber is called a fiber grating (FBG) (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2), which is a small and inexpensive device. Is characterized by high affinity. Note that the present invention is not limited to the FBG and can be applied to a Bragg grating or the like fabricated in a planar optical waveguide. In the present specification, the FBG will be described as an example.

  Also, one of the fiber grating type devices to which FBG is applied is known as Super Structure Fiber Bragg Grating (also known as Sampled (Fiber) Grating), which is known as SSFBG. The FBG (sub FBG) is arranged discretely and at equal intervals in the core of the optical fiber, and functions as an optical comb filter having a comb-like reflection characteristic.The SSFBG collectively collects light of multiple wavelengths. Since it can be filtered, it is expected as a device that realizes cost reduction and simplification of the system in a multi-wavelength light source, a WDM communication system, and the like.

Furthermore, a multi-point phase shift (MPS) method has been proposed as a technique for increasing the comb-shaped characteristics of SSFBG (for example, Shinsuke Nasu and Shinji Yamashita: “A new method for creating a superstructure fiber Bragg grating for DWDM—Phase Mask scanning method and multipoint phase shift method- ", IEICE technical report OF2001-43 (2001-10), or Patent Document 3). In order to increase the density of comb-type characteristics in a normal SSFBG, it is necessary to widen the distance between the sub-FBGs. For this reason, the device length becomes long (up to several tens of centimeters), but a long device is inconvenient, A phase mask method that can easily produce an FBG is not realistic because the total length is limited by the phase mask length. On the other hand, in the multipoint phase shift method, in the SSFBG in which the sub-FBGs are arranged at a certain interval, UV (ultraviolet) light is irradiated between the sub-FBGs to extend the optical path length, and an appropriate phase shift is given. This is a method, and it is possible to increase the density of comb characteristics while keeping the interval of the sub-FBGs short.
Japanese Patent No. 2521708 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-235808 JP 2003-4926 A

  However, the multipoint phase shift method has a drawback in that it is difficult to easily manufacture an SSFBG having desired characteristics because it is difficult to control the amount of phase shift.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-density optical comb filter that can easily produce a small and high-density comb filter and a method for producing the same.

  In order to achieve the object, the high-density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 1 has comb-type reflection characteristics in which sub-gratings having substantially the same reflection band are arranged discretely and at equal intervals. A plurality of superlattice structure gratings are formed in a one-dimensional optical waveguide, a subgrating of each superlattice structure grating is formed between subgratings of other superlattice structure gratings, and a comb of each superlattice structure grating is formed. Each of the superlattice structure gratings is formed to have a different comb reflection characteristic so that the wavelength of the reflection peak of the mold reflection characteristic is between the wavelengths of the reflection peaks of the comb reflection characteristics of other superlattice structure gratings. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of interleaved superlattice structure gratings increase the density of the comb reflection characteristics, and the subgratings constituting each superlattice structure grating form subgratings constituting another superlattice structure grating. Therefore, a high-density comb filter can be manufactured while keeping the device length short. In addition, the comb filter manufactured according to the present invention can be easily manufactured because a conventional method for manufacturing a superlattice structure grating can be used.

  The high density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a grating having a uniform grating pitch having substantially the same reflection band. It is characterized by being.

  The high density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is an apodized grating having substantially the same reflection band. It is characterized by that. The apodized grating is a grating in which the amount of change in refractive index is changed with respect to the longitudinal direction of the one-dimensional optical waveguide.

  The high density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the sub-grating of each of the superlattice structure gratings is a chirped grating having substantially the same reflection band. It is characterized by. The chirped grating is a grating in which the period of refractive index change is changed with respect to the longitudinal direction of the one-dimensional optical waveguide.

  The high density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings have the comb characteristics. The optical filter is characterized in that the wavelength interval of the reflection peak of the comb-shaped characteristic of the optical filter is substantially constant.

  The high density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are substantially all. It is characterized by being identical.

  The high-density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are different from each other. It is characterized by.

  9. The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of superlattice structure gratings having comb-like reflection characteristics in which sub-gratings having substantially the same reflection band are arranged at discrete and equal intervals are one-dimensional light. The sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is formed between the sub-gratings of other superlattice structure gratings, and the wavelength of the reflection peak of the comb-type reflection characteristics of each superlattice structure grating is different. Each of the superlattice structure gratings has a different comb-type reflection characteristic so as to be between the wavelengths of the reflection peaks of the comb-type reflection characteristic of the superlattice structure grating. According to the present invention, a plurality of interleaved superlattice structure gratings increase the density of the comb reflection characteristics, and the subgratings constituting each superlattice structure grating form subgratings constituting another superlattice structure grating. Therefore, it is possible to realize a high-density comb filter while keeping the device length short. In addition, the comb filter manufactured according to the present invention can be easily manufactured because a conventional method for manufacturing a superlattice structure grating can be used.

  The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a grating with a uniform grating pitch having substantially the same reflection band. It is characterized by that.

  The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is an apodized grating having substantially the same reflection band. It is a feature.

  The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 8, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a chirped grating having substantially the same reflection band. It is said.

  The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 12 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are optical filters having the comb characteristics. It is characterized in that the wavelength intervals of the reflection peaks of the comb-shaped characteristics are arranged at an interval that is substantially constant.

  The high density optical comb filter according to claim 13 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein all of the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are substantially the same. It is characterized by being.

  The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 14 is the invention according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are different from each other. It is said.

  According to the high-density optical comb filter and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention, a small and high-density comb filter can be easily manufactured.

  Embodiments of a high-density optical comb filter and a method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, an interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating will be described as an example of a high-density optical comb filter according to the present invention.

1. Basic Principle First, the basic principle of the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating described in the present embodiment will be described.

1.1 Fiber Grating 1.1.1 Principle of Fiber Grating Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) is a photosensitive light that utilizes a change in refractive index caused by applying UV (ultraviolet) light to a photosensitive optical fiber. This is a fiber-type optical device in which a Bragg diffraction grating is formed by making a periodic refractive index change in the fiber core. The structure of this FBG is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the FBG 10 has a refractive index change in which the refractive index periodically changes in the core 14 of the photosensitive fiber 12 with a period Λ _fbg in the fiber axial direction. It has a structure with. As shown in FIG. 2, this FBG is characterized in that it diffracts (reflects) Bragg wavelength according to the Bragg condition shown in the following formula (1) among incident light incident on the fiber core 14 and transmits other wavelengths. .

λ _bragg = 2 · n _eff · Λ _fbg (1)
Here, λ _bragg is the Bragg wavelength diffracted by the Bragg diffraction grating, n _eff is the effective refractive index in the core, and Λ _fbg is the period of refractive index change. Hereinafter, the period Λ _fbg of refractive index change is referred to as a grating pitch.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the refractive index change with respect to the fiber axis direction, with the refractive index n on the vertical axis and the position z in the fiber axis direction on the horizontal axis. When a periodic refractive index change is made in the fiber core, the effective refractive index n _eff indicates the average value of the refractive index in the fiber core, and the refractive index modulation degree δn _eff is the effective refractive index n _eff. Represents the amount of change in the refractive index from.

In FIG. 4A, the vertical axis represents the refractive index modulation degree δn _eff and the horizontal axis represents the position z in the fiber axis direction, and represents the change in the refractive index within the core. The envelope of this change in refractive index is called a refractive index profile, and generally the refractive index profile and the reflection characteristics of the FBG have a Fourier transform relationship. In the example of FIG. 4A, since the refractive index profile is rectangular, the reflection characteristic of the FBG is a sinc type. As shown in FIG. 4B, which shows the sinc-type reflection characteristics of the FBG in decibels, the FBG can be used as an optical filter that reflects light in the vicinity of the Bragg wavelength λ _bragg , and various types can be controlled by controlling the refractive index profile. It is possible to realize a characteristic optical filter.

1.2 Fabrication method of fiber grating 1.2.1 Phase mask method There are various methods of fabricating FBGs, and an interleaved superlattice for explaining a phase mask method generally used in this embodiment in this embodiment. Used to fabricate structural fiber gratings. It is not limited to the phase mask method, and can be manufactured by other methods such as a two-beam interference method. In the phase mask method, a phase mask 24 as shown in FIG. 5 is used. The phase mask 24 is formed by forming a diffraction grating 22 having a relief structure on the surface of a flat and high-quality quartz glass plate 20. When UV light having a certain wavelength is incident on the phase mask 24, the incident UV light is diffracted, and the diffracted light interferes in the core of the fiber. For example, in the production of the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating in the present embodiment, a phase mask having a total length of 3 cm and a pitch of 1071 nm of a relief structure (diffraction grating) is used, and UV light having a wavelength of 248 nm is incident on the phase mask. In this case, the 0th order diffracted light is 5% or less, the ± 1st order diffracted light is about 35%, and the ± 1st order diffraction angle is about 13.4 °. Therefore, the interference occurring in the fiber core is mostly caused by ± first order diffracted light. Hereinafter, the pitch of the relief structure is referred to as Λ _mask and is referred to as a mask pitch.

The principle of the phase mask method will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the photosensitive optical fiber 12 is disposed immediately in contact with the phase mask 24 (lower surface), and UV light is irradiated from above. The irradiated UV light is diffracted when passing through the phase mask 24, and the + 1st order diffracted light and the −1st order diffracted light interfere in the core 14 of the photosensitive optical fiber 12 to form interference fringes. At this time, the interference fringes are formed with a period that is half the pitch of the phase mask 24. As shown in FIG. 5B, the refractive index modulation degree δn _eff increases in the portion where the interference is strong, and the refractive index modulation degree δn _eff decreases in the portion where the interference is weak. Therefore, the photosensitive optical fiber has the same period as the interference fringes. A grating is made in the twelve cores 14.

1.2.2 Tilt Method A method for changing the Bragg wavelength of the FBG will be described. In the phase mask method, the grating pitch Λ _fbg of the FBG is determined by the mask pitch Λ _mask . Therefore, in order to produce FBGs having different Bragg wavelengths, it is necessary to use a phase mask having a mask pitch that matches the target Bragg wavelength. In the production of the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating in the present embodiment, it is necessary to produce two types of FBGs having different Bragg wavelengths as described later, and two phase masks corresponding to each Bragg wavelength are necessary. However, since the phase mask is expensive, a tilt method that can change the Bragg wavelength with one phase mask is used.

In general, an FBG (tilt grating) formed in the fiber core by the tilt method is manufactured by giving an inclination to the photosensitive fiber 12 with respect to the phase mask 24 as shown in FIG. The FBG diffraction grating produced by tilting the photosensitive fiber 12 by the angle θ with respect to the phase mask 24 is formed obliquely with respect to the fiber axis as shown in the figure, so that the grating pitch is Λ _fbg when viewed from the fiber axis. / Cosθ. For this reason, the Bragg wavelength is expressed by the following equation (2):
λ _tilt = 2 · n _eff · (1/2) · Λ _mask / _cosθ = λ _bragg / _cosθ (2)
It turns out that it changes to the long wavelength side.

1.3 Superlattice Fiber Bragg Grating (Superstructure fiber Bragg grating) is a device in which FBGs are discretely arranged at equal intervals in the core of a photosensitive fiber. The structure of SSFBG is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the FBGs 30, 30, 30,... Are arranged at equal intervals on the fiber core 14, and the FBGs 30, 30, 30, and the voids 31, 31, 31,. Are arranged alternately. Here, each FBG is called a sub-grating (sub-FBG). In addition, λ ₁ shown at the top of each sub FBG 30, 30, 30,... Indicates the Bragg wavelength of each sub FBG 30 alone, and indicates that the Bragg wavelengths of all the sub FBGs 30 are the same. Further, in the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating of the present embodiment, two SSFBGs are formed in the same core, and one of them is, for example, the grating length (sub FBG 30) of the sub FBG 30 as shown in FIG. The length) is 0.4 mm, and the interval between the sub FBGs (sub FBG interval) is 2 mm.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the reflection characteristics of SSFBG have a comb-shaped reflection characteristic due to the Fourier transform. In the SSFBG, when the sub-FBG length is lengthened, the wavelength bandwidth of the reflection characteristics is narrowed, and when the sub-FBG interval is lengthened, the density of the reflection peaks is narrowed. When the number of sub-FBGs is increased, the individual reflection peaks of the reflection characteristics are narrowed and reflectivity is increased. There is a feature that becomes higher.

  In general, in order to increase the reflection peak of SSFBG, the interval between sub FBGs may be increased. As an example, the structure and reflection characteristics of the SSFBG when the density is doubled and tripled are shown in FIGS. With reference to the sub-FBG interval (2 mm) in FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B shows the case where the sub-FBG interval is double (4 mm), and FIG. 10C shows the sub-FBG interval (6 mm) is triple. Shows the case. This shows that the peak density is inversely proportional to the sub-FBG interval.

  Thus, in order to increase the density of the reflection peak to 2 times or 3 times, it is necessary to lengthen the sub-FBG interval to 2 times or 3 times, respectively. When the reflection peak is densified using this method, the total length becomes longer as the density is increased. For example, when making a high-density comb filter having peaks at 10 GHz intervals, the sub-FBG interval must be about 1 cm. To make a filter with sufficient reflectivity, if the number of sub-FBGs is 15, then the total length is increased. It becomes about 15cm. This length of 15 cm is large and difficult to handle as a device, and when an SSFBG is produced using the phase mask method, the length is limited by the length of the phase mask, making it difficult and practical to manufacture. is not.

2. Interleaved Superstructure Fiber Bragg Grating 2.1 Interleaved superstructure fiber grading (ISSFBG) is a small and high density optical comb filter. As a method of manufacturing, the interleaving method is used.

2.1.1 Interleaving method FIG. 11A shows the structure of a normal SSFBG. As shown in the figure, sub-FBGs 30 and 30 with Bragg wavelength λ ₁ generated at equal intervals in the fiber core 14 are shown. The space between 30,... (Voids 31, 31, 31,...) Is not used. Therefore, the interleaving method is a method in which FBG is produced and used also in this unused portion. FIG. 11B shows the structure of an interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating (ISSFBG) 40 of this embodiment manufactured by the interleaving method. The core 14 of the fiber as shown in FIG be similarly sub FBG30,30,30 ... is formed and SSFBG of FIG. 11 (a), the Bragg wavelength lambda ₁ and the different Bragg wavelength lambda ₂ between the sub-FBG The sub FBGs 32, 32, 32,... Are sandwiched to form two SSFBGs. Thus, the sub FBG 30 and the sub FBG 32 are alternately arranged on the fiber core 14 with the gaps 33 and 35 interposed therebetween, such as the sub FBG 30, the gap 33, the sub FBG 32, the gap 35, the sub FBG 30,. The ISSFBG 40 configured as described above can keep the device length as short as the SSFBG, and can be easily manufactured in the same manner as when the SSFBG is manufactured using the phase mask method described in section 1.2.1. can do. Conventionally, this method has been proposed as a method for simultaneously filtering signals in the 1560 nm band and the 1300 nm band, for example. This utilizes the fact that when the reflection wavelength bands are sufficiently different, the reflection characteristics of each other do not interfere with each other and the sub FBGs can be regarded as transparent.

2.1.2 Interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating In the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating (ISSFBG) of this embodiment, the interleaving method is not used in two separate bands, but is used at substantially the same wavelength. , Densify the comb-type characteristics of SSFBG. As a specific example, in the structure of the ISSFBG 40 shown in FIG. 11B, the Bragg wavelength λ ₁ of each sub-FBG 30 is set to 152.02 nm, and the sub-FBG length L of the SSFBG (referred to as the first SSFBG) composed of these sub-FBGs 30 _{The FBG1} is 0.4 mm, the sub FBG interval L ₁ is 2 mm, the number of sub FBGs N _FBG1 is 12, and the Bragg wavelength λ ₂ of each sub FBG 32 is 155.222 nm. A case where an ISSFBG having a sub FBG length L _{FBG2 (referred} to as a second SSFBG) of 0.40005 mm, a sub FBG interval L ₂ of 2.000268 mm, and a number of sub FBGs N _FBG2 of 12 is shown. FIG. 12A shows the reflection characteristics of the first SSFBG, and FIG. 12B shows the reflection characteristics of the second SSFBG. At this time, when the second SSFBG having the reflection characteristic of FIG. 12B having the reflection peak whose center wavelength is shifted by half the reflection peak interval is sandwiched between the first SSFBG having the reflection characteristic of FIG. The two reflection characteristics are linearly added to obtain a high density elimination characteristic having the reflection characteristics as shown in FIG.

  If the reflection peak of the comb characteristic is doubled in this way, the light wave reflected by the sub FBG of each SSFBG as the first SSFBG 42 and the second SSFBG 44 constituting the ISSFBG 40 as shown in FIG. It is only necessary to sandwich two SSFBGs whose phases are shifted by π. If the density is to be increased N times, N SSFBGs whose phases are shifted by 2π / N may be inserted. When N SSFBGs whose phases are shifted by 2π / N are sandwiched, the wavelength interval between the reflection peaks of the comb-shaped characteristics is substantially constant, but the wavelength interval between the reflection peaks is not necessarily constant.

  Here, the reflection characteristic of the SSFBG has a peak at a wavelength at which the phase difference between the light waves reflected by the sub-FBGs constituting the SSFBG is 2nπ (n is an integer), and is (2n + 1) π (n is an integer). It becomes a trough at the wavelength. The calculation of the phase difference at a certain wavelength can be obtained from the following equation (3).

P = 2π · ((2L · n _eff )% λ) / λ (3)
L is the sub-FBG interval, and ((2L · n _eff )% λ) represents the remainder obtained by dividing the round-trip optical path length (2L · n _eff ) by the wavelength λ. For example, when the 1550 nm band is used, the phase changes by 2π when the sub FBG interval changes by about 500 nm. Control of the phase performed to obtain the SSFBG having a phase shift as shown in FIG. 12B requires control of a minute sub-FBG interval of about a few tens of nanometers.

  In the present embodiment, the first SSFBG is first manufactured as shown in FIG. 15 and then manufactured as shown in FIG. As a result, with respect to the movement amount L of the same stage, in the second SSFBG, the sub-FBG interval becomes L / cos θ, and a minute interval can be controlled by controlling θ.

Further, thereby the density of the comb characteristics by adjusting only the sub-FBG spacing be the same as the Bragg wavelength lambda ₂ of the Bragg wavelength lambda ₁ and the sub-FBG second SSFBG sub FBG of the first SSFBG However, in the above specific example, the Bragg wavelength λ ₂ (center wavelength) of the sub-FBG in the second SSFBG is also shifted to the long wavelength side. In this case, the sub FBG of the second SSFBG can be manufactured using the same phase mask as the sub FBG of the first SSFBG by using the tilt method described in section 1.2.2. However, phase masks having different mask pitches may be used.

3. Comb Filter Device Using ISSFBG FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a comb filter device configured using the ISSFBG of the present embodiment. In the figure, the comb filter device 50 includes the ISSFBG 40 of the present embodiment, an optical circulator 52, and an optical amplifier 54. The optical circulator 52 includes three terminals, a first terminal 52A, a second terminal 52B, and a third terminal 52C. The first terminal 52A is connected to the input terminal 50A of the comb filter device 50. In the figure, a light source 56 that emits light having a wide bandwidth, for example, is connected to the input terminal 50A of the comb filter device 50, and the light emitted from the light source 56 is connected to the first terminal 52A of the optical circulator 52. It is designed to be incident.

  The ISSFBG 40 is connected to the second terminal 52B of the optical circulator 52, and the light incident on the first terminal 52A of the optical circulator 52 is emitted from the second terminal 52B and enters the ISSFBG 40. In the ISSFBG 40, light having a wavelength selected by the high density elimination type reflection characteristic of the ISSFBG 40 is reflected among the wavelengths of incident light as shown in FIG. The light reflected by the ISSFBG 40 enters the second terminal 52B of the optical circulator 52.

  An optical amplifier 54 is connected to the third terminal 52C of the optical circulator 52, and the light reflected by the ISSFBG 40 and incident on the second terminal 52B of the optical circulator 52 is emitted from the third terminal 54C and output to the optical amplifier 54. Is incident on. The light incident on the optical amplifier 54 is amplified by the optical amplifier 54 and output from the output terminal 50B of the comb filter device 50 as a filter output. Of the wavelengths of light input to the comb filter device 50 by the comb filter device 50 configured as described above, light having a wavelength reflected by the comb reflection characteristics of the ISSFBG 40 is output from the filter device 50.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the SSFBG is interleaved with two SSFBGs is shown. However, by interleaving more than two SSFBGs, it is possible to manufacture an ISSFBG having a higher density and a mold characteristic.

  Moreover, although the case where each sub FBG of the ISSFBG according to the present invention is manufactured using the phase mask method in the above embodiment has been described, the ISSFBG according to the present invention is manufactured using another method of manufacturing the FBG. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, the sub-FBG of each SSFBG of the ISSFBG is a grating having a uniform grating pitch. However, the sub-FBG of each SSFBG may be an apodized grating or a chirped grating. As is well known, an apodized grating is a grating in which the amount of change in refractive index is changed with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fiber core, and a chirped grating is refracted with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fiber core as is well known. It is a grating in which the rate change period is changed.

  Here, when the sub FBG of each SSFBG is an apodized grating or chirped grating, the reflection characteristics of the apodized grating or chirped grating of each SSFBG are all substantially the same (the reflection band and the reflectance are the same). Alternatively, the reflection band may be substantially the same and the reflectance may be different.

  In the above embodiment, the case where a comb filter having high-density comb-type characteristics is manufactured in an optical fiber has been described. However, in the same manner as the ISSFBG, a medium other than an optical fiber, for example, a planar optical waveguide (one-dimensional optical waveguide) A plurality of superlattice structure gratings can be formed on an optical waveguide) by interleaving to make a high density filter.

The figure which showed the structure of the fiber grating. The figure which showed the core of the fiber in which a fiber grating is formed. The figure used for description of the refractive index change of a fiber grating. The figure used for description of the reflection characteristic of a fiber grating. The figure which looked at the phase mask from the top. The figure used for description of the principle of the phase mask method. The figure used for description of preparation of FBG by a tilt method. The figure which showed the structure of the superlattice structure fiber grating. The figure which showed the reflective characteristic of the superlattice structure fiber grating. The figure which showed the reflection characteristic at the time of changing a sub FBG space | interval in a superlattice structure fiber grating. The figure used to explain the interleaving method. The figure used for description of the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating of this Embodiment. The figure used for description of a phase. The block diagram which showed an example of the comb filter apparatus using the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating of this Embodiment. The figure which showed an example in the case of producing the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating of this Embodiment using a phase mask. The figure which showed an example in the case of producing the interleaved superlattice structure fiber grating of this Embodiment using a phase mask.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fiber grating (FBG), 12 ... Photosensitive fiber, 14 ... Core, 22 ... Diffraction grating, 24 ... Phase mask, 30, 32 ... Sub FBG, 31, 33, 35 ... Air gap part, 40 ... ISSFBG, 50 ... Comb filter device, 52... Optical circulator, 54... Optical amplifier, 56.

Claims (14)

A plurality of superlattice structure gratings having a comb-like reflection characteristic in which sub-gratings having substantially the same reflection band are arranged discretely and at equal intervals are formed in a one-dimensional optical waveguide,
The sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is formed between the sub-gratings of another superlattice structure grating, and the wavelength of the reflection peak of the comb-shaped reflection characteristic of each superlattice structure grating is different from that of the other superlattice structure grating. A method for producing a high density optical comb filter, wherein each of the superlattice structure gratings is formed to have a different comb reflection characteristic so as to be between wavelengths of reflection peaks of the comb reflection characteristic.   2. The method of manufacturing a high density optical comb filter according to claim 1, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a grating having a uniform grating pitch having substantially the same reflection band.   2. The method for producing a high density optical comb filter according to claim 1, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is an apodized grating having substantially the same reflection band.   2. The method of manufacturing a high density optical comb filter according to claim 1, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a chirped grating having substantially the same reflection band.   The sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are arranged at intervals such that the wavelength intervals of the reflection peaks of the comb-shaped characteristics of the optical filter having the comb-shaped characteristics are substantially constant. The high-density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. The method for manufacturing a high density optical comb filter according to claim 1, wherein the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are substantially the same.   6. The high density optical comb filter manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are different from each other. A plurality of superlattice structure gratings having a comb-like reflection characteristic in which sub-gratings having substantially the same reflection band are arranged discretely and at equal intervals are formed in a one-dimensional optical waveguide,
The sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is formed between the sub-gratings of another superlattice structure grating, and the wavelength of the reflection peak of the comb-shaped reflection characteristic of each superlattice structure grating is different from that of the other superlattice structure grating. A high density optical comb filter, wherein each of the superlattice structure gratings has different comb reflection characteristics so as to be between wavelengths of reflection peaks of the comb reflection characteristics.   9. The high density optical comb filter according to claim 8, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a grating with a uniform grating pitch having substantially the same reflection band.   9. The high density optical comb filter according to claim 8, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is an apodized grating having substantially the same reflection band.   9. The high density optical comb filter according to claim 8, wherein the sub-grating of each superlattice structure grating is a chirped grating having substantially the same reflection band.   The sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are arranged at intervals such that the wavelength intervals of the reflection peaks of the comb-shaped characteristics of the optical filter having the comb-shaped characteristics are substantially constant. The high-density optical comb filter according to any one of claims 8 to 11.   13. The high-density optical comb filter according to claim 8, wherein reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are substantially the same. The high density optical comb filter according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the reflection characteristics of the sub-gratings of the plurality of superlattice structure gratings are different from each other.

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