Keiji KATAOKA

3381-31 Higashi-ishikawa, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki 312-0052, Japan

(Received January 29, 2010; Accepted February 23, 2010)

The alignment error of arrayed beams in optical fiber array devices is caused by structural errors of the optical fibers themselves such as error in cladding surface diameter, core offset, and the noncircularity of the cladding surface. In this study, the relations among them are analytically clarified. Moreover, by probability evaluation, the allowable structure errors for suppressing the alignment error below a certain level are calculated. The predicted yield rate below an alignment error of 0.4 μm for five beams is compared with the result of real fabrication.

Key words: optical fiber array, alignment error, structural error, optical fiber