Tapered optical fiber, manufacturing method thereof and manufacturing system thereof

Abstract

To provide a tapered optical fiber having a good outer diameter accuracy and a high reproducibility, a manufacturing method of the tapered optical fiber, and a manufacturing system of the tapered optical fiber. The above-mentioned problem is solved by manufacturing systemof a tapered optical fiber comprising: shifterwhich reciprocates optical fibermounted at positions having a prescribed distance therebetween in the longer direction X of optical fiber(the direction of the optical axis); and heating devicewhich heats the reciprocating optical fiberat fixed position O, wherein shifterincludes a broadening unit which can increase the mounting distance (L+L) of the optical fiber while reciprocating the optical fiber. Shifterhas at least two mounting unit which fix the optical fiber, and serves as a broadening unit controlling the two mounting unit independently or interlockingly. The control is performed to in order to change at least one of the ranges of reciprocal movement, the reciprocal movement speed, and the broadening width of the optical fiber fixed on the mounting unit.