Optical element for Mie scattering of light from an optical fiber

摘要

The present invention relates to an optical scattering element suitable for dispersing or scattering light transmitted by an optical device by Mie scattering. The optical scattering element comprises dispersed phase particles having a number density of 10 8 to 10 12 mm −3 and a particle size of 200 to 500 nm or phase-separated borosilicate glass or porous borosilicate glass having pores having a size of 200 to 500 nm. It becomes. The optical scattering element can be manufactured by subjecting the borosilicate glass to a controlled heat treatment to induce phase separation and then optionally leaching one of the phases by acid leaching. The optical scattering element can be coupled to the end of an optical fiber or a bundle of optical fibers, for example. The present invention also relates to a method for dispersing or scattering light by transmitting the light through an optical scattering element.