Hamamatsu-photonics K.k.

Kensaku Itoh

Yoshihiro Takiguchi

Junpei Yamanaka

When a piezoelectric elementapplies an external force to a plastic photonic crystal, the photonic crystal deforms, and accordingly, the photonic band gap easily changes. When the photonic band gap changes, transmission of light with a specific wavelength is limited. Therefore, light with a desired wavelength is outputted from the photonic crystalupon sufficient tuning, and extracted to the outside through an output window. In the present invention, a plastic photonic crystalwhich can achieve sufficient wavelength tuning although it is small is used, and elements are unitized, so that the entire wavelength tunable light source unit is downsized.

Variable wavelength light source

A photonic crystalwith plasticity is arranged by making microspheres of silica or barium titanate or air bubbles be contained in a gel substance. When an external force is applied to this photonic crystal, photonic crystaldeforms and the photonic band gap is readily changed thereby. When the photonic band gap changes, the passage of light of a specific wavelength is restricted. Light of a desired wavelength is thus output from photonic crystal. With this invention, this wavelength can be varied readily by means of an external force.

Optical device

An end faceof an optical fiberand an end faceof an optical fiberare arranged so as to have a predetermined interval and to oppose each other in a V-grooveof a base. A solutionincluding particles used as a material of the photonic crystal is dropped into a space sectionwhich is formed by the end face, the end face, and the V-groove. Accordingly, by growing the photonic crystal from each of the end faceand the end face, the optical control section including the photonic crystalis formed on each of the end faceand the end face

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Fuchu-machi, Japan

Kensaku Itoh