A(n) _____ splitter is made by wrapping two or more fibers together at a central point and heating that point so that the glass will melt into a unified mass.

A fused splitter, also known as a fused fiber optic splitter or fused biconical taper (FBT) splitter, is constructed by taking two or more optical fibers and wrapping them together at a central point. During the manufacturing process, this junction is heated, causing the glass at that point to melt and combine into a single cohesive mass. This fusion process creates a connection that allows for the distribution of light signals from one fiber to multiple fibers efficiently.

The reason this method is effective is that it preserves the optical properties of the fibers while allowing energy to be split between the outputs. Fused splitters are commonly used in various applications such as telecommunications networks where signal splitting is necessary to deliver data to multiple destinations.

The other options might refer to other types of optical devices, but they do not accurately describe the specific process used in making a fused splitter. The term "optical splitter" is a broad term that includes various types of splitters, and while a waveguide coupler is a device used to couple light into or out of waveguides, it does not specifically refer to the fused process. A fiber divider does not signify a recognized method or device in fiber optics; rather, it may be confused with other splitting technologies. Thus, the