An optical device used, for example, in an add/drop multiplexer, a dynamic
gain equalizer or a optical power monitor. The optical device includes
(a) a substrate; (b) a first slab waveguide formed on the substrate; (c)
channel waveguides of differing lengths formed on the substrate, light
output from the first slab waveguide being input to the channel
waveguides; and (d) a second slab waveguide formed on the substrate,
light output from the channel waveguides being input to the second slab
waveguide. An end face of the second slab waveguide shares a face with an
end face of the substrate. The optical device has low loss
characteristics.