Laser device and method for manufacturing same

A method for manufacturing a laser device including:

• a laser element having an output surface via which light is outputted;
• an optical fiber having a leading end portion which faces the output surface of the laser element;
• and
• a supporting member for supporting the optical fiber, the supporting member being made from a non heat insulating material,
• the supporting member including (i) a column section having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and including a lower surface which includes a contact portion which is thermally in contact with a heat releasing member, and (ii) a beam section having a platelike shape and including (a) an upper surface including a solder fixation section to which the optical fiber is fixed by use of solder and (b) a lower surface including a connection section with which an upper surface of the column section is connected, a part of the lower surface other than the connection section facing the heat releasing member while being spaced apart from the heat releasing member,
• the beam section being made up of a first section which includes the solder fixation section, a second section which includes the connection section, and a third section which is sandwiched between the first section and the second section and does not include the solder fixation section or the connection section, a boundary plane between the first section and the second section and a boundary plane between the second section and the third section being perpendicular to the upper surface and the lower surface of the beam section,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) applying laser light to the third section of the beam section when the optical fiber is fixed to the solder fixation section by use of the solder;
• and
• (b) melting the solder by using an increase in temperature of the solder fixation section, the increase being caused by heat conducted from the third section of the beam section to the first section of the beam section.