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An optical element comprising an elongated channel for light travel comprising a light transmitting polymeric central core and further comprising multilayer particles, wherein a majority of the particles have both a longest dimension less than 1 micrometer and an aspect ratio of longest to smallest

An optical element comprising an elongated channel for light travel comprising a light transmitting polymeric central core and further comprising multilayer particles, wherein a majority of the particles have both a longest dimension less than 1 micrometer and an aspect ratio of longest to smallest dimension of from 1000:1, to 10:1, wherein the particles are arranged in a concentration differential in at least a portion of a plane normal to the length of the channel so as to create a refractive index gradient in that plane.

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An optical element comprising an elongated channel for light travel comprising a light transmitting polymeric central core and further comprising multilayer particles, wherein a majority of the particles have both a longest dimension less than 1 micrometer and an aspect ratio of longest to smallest

An optical element comprising an elongated channel for light travel comprising a light transmitting polymeric central core and further comprising multilayer particles, wherein a majority of the particles have both a longest dimension less than 1 micrometer and an aspect ratio of longest to smallest dimension of from 1000:1, to 10:1, wherein the particles are arranged in a concentration differential in at least a portion of a plane normal to the length of the channel so as to create a refractive index gradient in that plane. ides are provided to transfer a light between the first and second optical waveguides, the first and second directional coupling portions are provided such that a length of the first optical waveguide between the first and second directional coupling portions and a length of the second optical waveguide between the first and second directional coupling portion have a difference (&Dgr;L), whereina product (n×&Dgr;L) between the difference (&Dgr;L) and a refractive index (n) of the first and second optical waveguides approximates a product between a cross-propagation wavelength (λ2) and a value (N′) substantially equal to an integer (N), and a product between a through-propagation wavelength (λ1) and the value (N′)±0.5, the cross-propagation wavelength (λ2) being a wavelength of a cross-propagation light which propagates from the first optical waveguide to the second optical waveguide or from the second optical waveguide to the first optical waveguide, the through-propagation wavelength (λ1) being a wavelength of a through-propagation light which propagates from an input to an output of the first optical waveguide or from an input to an output of the second optical waveguide,power coupling ratio differences between first power coupling ratios of the first and second directional coupling portions with respect to the cross-propagation wavelength (λ2) and second power coupling ratios of the first and second directional coupling portions with respect to the through-propagation wavelength (λ1) are at least approximately 1% and at most approximately 10%, andthird power coupling ratios of the first and second directional coupling portions with respect to an average wavelength of the cross-propagation wavelength (λ2) and the through-propagation wavelength (λ1) are at least approximately 45% and at most approximately 55%.2. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the value (N′) is at least substantially the integer (N)−0.1 and at most substantially the integer (N)+0.1.3. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the value (N′) is equal to the integer (N).4. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein a crosstalk is at most a predetermined value over a range in which the third power coupling ratios are at least approximately 45% and at most approximately 55%.5. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined value of the crosstalk is −15 dB.6. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the first power coupling ratio of the first directional coupling portion is substantially equal to the first power coupling ratio of the second directional coupling portion.7. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the first power coupling ratio of the first directional coupling portion is different from the first power coupling ratio of the second directional coupling portion.8. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the second power coupling ratio of the first directional coupling portion is substantially equal to the second power coupling ratio of the second directional coupling portion.9. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the second power coupling ratio of the first directional coupling portion is different from the second power coupling ratio of the second directional coupling portion.10. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the third power coupling ratio of the first directional coupling portion is substantially equal to the third power coupling ratio of the second directional coupling portion.11. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to claim 1, wherein the third power coupling ratio of the first directional coupling portion is different from the third power coupling ratio of the second directional coupling portion.12. An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer