An optical fiber bundle that has better ultraviolet resistance
characteristics at a wavelength range of 150 to 250 nm and that can be
readily and cheaply manufactured with no risk of, for example, explosion
during manufacturing and its manufacturing method are provided. In the
optical fiber bundle, optical fibers including a core mainly containing
silica glass and a cladding containing silica glass and fluorine are
bundled and accommodated in a container. This container has optically
transparent ends, accommodates hydrogen or deuterium as well as the
optical fibers, and is sealed. The capacity of the container is 10 times
or less as large as the volume of glass of the optical fibers. The method
of manufacturing the optical fiber bundle includes the steps of
impregnating the optical fibers with hydrogen or deuterium by keeping the
optical fibers in a hydrogen or deuterium atmosphere; bundling the
optical fibers and accommodating the bundled optical fibers in the
container before the hydrogen or deuterium desorbs from the optical
fibers; and sealing the container so that hydrogen or deuterium that has
desorbed from the optical fibers can be kept in the container.