DBR（distributed Bragg reflector，一个译名：分布式布拉格反射器）是在波导中使用的反射器。当光经过不同介质时在接口的地方会反射，反射率的大小会与介质间折射率大小有关，因此如果我们把不同折射率的薄膜交互周期性的堆叠在一起，当光经过这些不同折射率的薄膜的时候，由于各层反射回来的光因相位角的改变而进行建设性干涉，然后互相结合再一起，得到强烈反射光。

如果多膜层数变的非常多，而薄膜折射率 n₁、n₂、n₃…. 的差变得非常小时，光就如同在同一个介质里前进，反射系数变得非常小。由于光的多重干涉而造成干涉效果十分明显，因此对于波长的选择变非常敏锐，在使用类似光栅情形时，这样的周期性结构就被称为分布式布拉格反射器（Distributed Bragg reflectors）。

A distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) is a reflector used in waveguides, such as optical fibers. It is a structure formed from multiple layers of alternating materials with varying refractive index, or by periodic variation of some characteristic (such as height) of a dielectric waveguide, resulting in periodic variation in the effective refractive index in the guide. Each layer boundary causes a partial reflection of an optical wave. For waves whose vacuum wavelength is close to four times the optical thickness of the layers, the many reflections combine with constructive interference, and the layers act as a high-quality reflector. The range of wavelengths that are reflected is called the photonic stopband. Within this range of wavelengths, light is "forbidden" to propagate in the structure.