Method for manufacturing light waveguide branches and multi/demultiplexers according to the beam divider principle

A method for manufacturing light waveguide branch elements and multi/demultiplexer elements, which elements operate according to a beam divider principle, said method comprising the steps of providing a first body having parallel extending first light waveguides at a given spacing disposed along one side thereof;

• cutting said first body along a plane forming an angle with the first waveguide to form two parts;
• polishing the cut surfaces of each of said parts;
• applying a reflective structure on one of the polished surfaces, said reflective structure consisting of material selected from a group of materials for forming partial mirrors and for forming filters;
• reassembling and joining said parts together to form an assembly with the waveguides of each of the parts being axially aligned and the reflective structure disposed therebetween;
• providing a second body having parallel extending second waveguides at said spacing, said second body being polished on one surface with the end faces of the second waveguides lying in the plane of said one surface;
• assembling the second body on the assembly with the one surface facing the one side and the polished end faces of the second waveguides being in the proximity of the reflective structure to receive light reflected thereby;
• and joining the second body to the assembly to complete the formation of the element so that the light traveling in the first waveguides and reflected by the reflective structure is coupled into the ends of the second waveguides.