Optimal design of temperature-insensitive long period fiber gratings for athermal refractive-index sensor

Based on coupled-mode theory of long-period fiber grating (LPFG), a theoretical analysis and simulations for the optimal design of a temperature-insensitive LPFG is presented in order to achieve an athermal condition for sensing the refractive index of the external medium. Effects of the variation of the cladding radius and grating period on the temperature sensitivity of the LPFG are discussed. Both of these parameters are found to be important to control the temperature sensitivity when the thermo-optic coefficients of core and cladding materials are of the same order. Other grating parameters are also optimized in order to achieve a good contrast of the grating period with resonance wavelength in the 1.5 μm region and to sense the external medium refractive index over a wide range. Variation of external medium refractive index from 1.0 to 1.45 results a red-shift in the LPFG resonance wavelength by 86 nm with its temperature sensitivity as low as 0.008 nm/°C over a temperature range of 0–80 °C for this optimally designed LPFG.     

Measurement of refractive-index variation with temperature by use of long-period fiber gratings

The thermo-optic coefficient of the core material of a fiber is analyzed by use of a pair of long-period fiber gratings. First the effective index difference between the core and the cladding modes is measured from the peaks of the interference fringe generated by the grating pair. The order of the cladding mode is decided by the cutoff wavelength and the numerical aperture of the fiber. The material index of the fiber core is obtained in terms of wavelength. At each wavelength the index is chosen to minimize the difference between the measured and the calculated spectra of the grating pair. Finally the thermo-optic coefficient of the fiber core is calculated by repetition of the measurement at different temperatures. With a germanosilicate-core fiber and a boron codoped germanosilicate-core fiber, the thermo-optic coefficients were 1.1x10(-5)/( degrees )C and 0.75x10(-5)/( degrees )C, respectively.     

热光系数与长周期光纤光栅的温度灵敏度研究

利用受温度影响的光纤的本征方程和相位匹配条件,从理论上研究了长周期光纤光栅(LPFGs)的温度响应特性,给出了LPFGs的温度灵敏度的解析表达式。对利用低模序包层模的LPFG进行了实验研究。结果表明,利用不同包层模的LPFGs具有不同的温度灵敏度。分析了光纤的材料热光系数和模的热光系数的差别。单模光纤导模的热光系数接近纤芯的材料热光系数,而包层模的热光系数比包层的材料热光系数大,模序越大,其值越大。适当调整纤芯和包层的热光系数,并选用不同的包层模,可以得到对温度灵敏或不灵敏的LPFGs。     

Widely tunable asymmetric long-period fiber grating with high sensitivity using optical polymer on laser-ablated cladding

We demonstrate high-efficiency, wideband-tunable, laser-ablated long-period fiber gratings that use an optical polymer overlay. Portions of the fiber cladding are periodically removed by CO(2) laser pulses to induce periodic index changes for coupling the core mode into cladding modes. An optical polymer with a high thermo-optic coefficient with a dispersion distinct from that of silica is used on a deep-ablated cladding structure so that the effective indices of cladding modes become dispersive and the resonant wavelengths can be efficiently tuned. The tuning efficiency can be as high as 15.8 nm/ degrees C, and the tuning range can be wider than 105 nm (1545-1650 nm).     

Deposition of overlays by electrostatic self-assembly in long-period fiber gratings

It was proved that the deposition of an overlay material onto a long-period fiber grating causes important shifts in the wavelengths of the typical attenuation bands that are caused by coupling between cladding and core modes [Opt. Lett. 27, 682 (2002)]. A theoretical model for analyzing a multilayer cylindrical waveguide is presented that permits the phenomenon to be understood and predicted. An overlay of higher refractive index than the cladding starts to guide a mode if a certain thickness value is exceeded. This causes large shifts in the resonance wavelength induced by the grating. One important application of this phenomenon to sensors is enhancement of the sensitivity of a long-period fiber grating to ambient conditions. Theoretical results are corroborated with experimental ones obtained by electrostatic self-assembly.     

长周期光纤光栅应变和温度传感灵敏度研究

基于模耦合理论,从长周期光纤光栅在外加轴向应变或环境温度变化时可能出现的弹性形变、弹光效应、热光效应、热膨胀效应及波导效应入手,推导了描述其轴向应变和温度灵敏度的一般性公式.利用数值方法研究了光栅周期、耦合模式的阶次、弹光系数及热光系数对灵敏度的影响.结果表明：在相同条件下,增大光栅周期将是提高灵敏度的有效手段之一;低次模较高次模的耦合具有更高的灵敏度;包层与芯区的弹光系数（热光系数）相等时,波长漂移量很小且与谐振波长值有简单的正比关系.     

Thermo-optically tunable band-rejection filters using mechanically formed long-period fiber gratings

We present tunable mechanically formed long-period fiber gratings whose resonance peaks are shifted by the thermo-optic effect of a medium surrounding the fiber cladding. A novel grating formation method and tuning principles that use periodically arrayed metal wire are described. The performance as an active gain equalizer of an erbium-doped fiber amplifier is also reported.     

High sensitivity long-period grating-based temperature monitoring using a wide wavelength range to 2.2 μm

Temperature effects on the various cladding modes of a long-period grating (LPG) fabricated in B-Ge co-doped fibre have been investigated to create a high sensitivity measurement device. The temperature sensitivities of the attenuation bands of the LPG over the wavelength region 1.2-2.2 μm, for a grating with a 330 μm period, were obtained by monitoring the wavelength shift of each attenuation band, with a temperature increment of 20 °C, over the range from 23 °C to 140 °C. The attenuation band appearing over the 1.8-2.0 μm wavelength range has shown a nearly five times higher temperature sensitivity than that of lower order modes, and thus it shows significant promise for fibre optic temperature sensor applications.     

仅用一根局部微结构长周期光纤光栅实现温度与弯曲曲率的同时测量

提出并制作了一种具有微结构缺陷的局部微结构长周期光纤光栅,该光栅是用氢氟酸局部腐蚀长周期光纤光栅,在包层区域形成局部缺陷得到的.理论分析与实际制作表明,局部腐蚀会改变包层模的有效折射率调制,相当于在缺陷部分引入一个相移,在其光谱图上表现为在透射阻带中打开一个透射窗口,形成两个透射阻带和一个透射通带.在此基础上对其进行了传感实验,研究了两个透射阻带和透射通带的温度和弯曲特性.实验结果表明:透射通带和两透射阻带的温度灵敏度相同,均约为0.05 nm/?C;而透射通带的弯曲曲率灵敏度(约为-2.61 nm/m-1)小于透射阻带的弯曲曲率灵敏度(约为-4.71 nm/m-1),因此利用敏感矩阵,可以仅用一根光栅对弯曲曲率和温度双参量进行同时测量.     

基于LiNbO_3的长周期波导光栅可调谐耦合器的设计

设计了一种基于LiNbO_3的长周期波导光栅可调谐耦合器.该耦合器利用长周期光栅的独有特性将输入波导的导模经包层模耦合至输出波导导模.由于LiNbO_3的电光效应,波导光栅芯层与包层的有效折射率随外加电压变化,从而耦合器的谐振波长及耦合效率可由外加电压调谐.分析了光栅周期与耦合器的长度对耦合器带宽和耦合效率调谐范围的影响,以及波导尺寸对谐振波长调谐灵敏度的影响.结果表明光栅周期越短,耦合器长度越长,则耦合器的带宽越窄,耦合效率调谐范围也越大.此外,谐振波长调谐灵敏度随波导宽度的增加而减小,而波导厚度对谐振波长调谐灵敏度的影响可以忽略.对光栅周期为94μm、长度为3.52cm的耦合器进行仿真,结果表明,谐振波长灵敏度为26.2pm/V,3dB带宽可达4.5nm,当外加电压从0变化到200V时,谐振波长变化5.24nm,耦合效率可在1到0.15之间进行调谐.     

Two types of resonances in long-period gratings induced by arc discharges in boron/ germanium co-doped fibers

We demonstrate that under certain conditions it is possible to fabricate in a B/Ge co-doped fiber an arc-induced long-period grating whose spectrum contains a dual set of resonances. These two sets of resonances are formed by distinct mechanisms and are caused by coupling to cladding modes of different symmetries. They behave differently at high temperatures: the set produced by symmetric perturbation disappears during annealing at a temperature of 800 degrees C, while the other set produced by an antisymmetric mechanism can withstand temperatures above 1000 degrees C.     

Wide-passband, temperature-insensitive, and compact pi-phase-shifted long-period gratings in endlessly single-mode photonic crystal fiber

We demonstrate what is believed to be the first fabrication of a wide-passband, temperature-insensitive, and compact spectral filter based on a pi-phase-shifted long-period grating in an endless single-mode photonic crystal fiber. By introducing a pi-phase shift in the middle of a 12-period long-period grating, two symmetrical rejection bands at wavelengths of 1252.65 and 1418.7 nm are obtained with isolation higher than 18 dB and a passband bandwidth of 84.15 nm. The pi-phase-shifted long-period gratings are inscribed by the relaxation of mechanical stress with the focused pulses of a CO2 laser and a point-by-point technique without geometric deformation. The length of the spectral filter is approximately 6.6 mm with a sensitivity of 8 pm/ degrees C at a medium temperature range of 23-190 degrees C.     

Analysis of a widely tunable long-period grating by use of an ultrathin cladding layer and higher-order cladding mode coupling

A widely tunable long-period grating in single-mode fiber is analyzed by use of an ultrathin cladding layer and higher-order cladding mode coupling. The numerical simulation shows that a 225-nm tuning range in the newly designed ultrathin long-period grating (cladding thickness, 35 microm) with third-order cladding mode coupling can be obtained. The analyzed tuning range is seven times wider than those of the other known long-period gratings. We believe that the proposed highly sensitive long-period grating will be widely used as a gain-flattening filter for ultrawideband optical amplifiers and fast tunable filters in dynamic optical communication systems.     

Simultaneous strain and temperature measurement with long-period gratings

The differential modulation of the attenuation bands in a long-period grating is used for simultaneous sensing of axial strain and temperature. A grating fabricated in a conventional optical fiber is demonstrated for concurrent measurements of strain over a range of 2100 micro? and temperature over a range of 125 degrees C, with maximum errors of 58 micro? and 1 degrees C, respectively.     

长周期光纤光栅气敏薄膜传感器结构优化

基于三包层长周期光纤光栅模型,研究了包层表面涂覆一层溶胶凝胶气敏薄膜的长周期光纤光栅化学传感器的灵敏度Sn与薄膜光学参量(折射率n3和厚度h3)和光纤光栅结构参量(光栅周期、折变量和光栅长度)之间的关系。采用最优化数值方法,找到了获得高灵敏度所需的最佳膜层光学参量和光栅结构参量。理论计算表明,该类型传感器对膜层折射率的测量分辨率高达10-8。实验上制作了对乙醇气体敏感的传感器,并证实了传感器结构优化的必要性。     

CO2激光脉冲边缘写入的长周期光栅折射率特性研究

报道了一种用高频CO2激光脉冲在普通通信光纤包层边缘单侧写入的新型长周期光纤光栅。研究发现,这种长周期光纤光栅的折射率变化主要发生在光纤包层区域,而纤芯的折射率变化较小;同时该光栅的附加损耗低于0.5 dB。进一步折射率特性实验研究表明,由于其特殊的折变结构,这种光栅具有较高的外界环境灵敏度,当外界折射率在1.41~1.45范围内变化时,其谐振波长漂移量高达15.52 nm,比实验测得的用传统方法写入的长周期光纤光栅谐振波长漂移量高出近3倍,这种光栅结构在光纤传感中将具有重要的应用。     

In-fiber polymer-glass hybrid waveguide Bragg grating

A 1.2 microm (height) x 125 microm (depth) x 500 microm (length) microslot along a fiber Bragg grating was engraved across the optical fiber by femtosecond laser patterning and chemical etching. By filling epoxy in the slot and subsequent UV curing, a hybrid waveguide grating structure with a polymer core and glass cladding was fabricated. The obtained device is highly thermally responsive with linear coefficient of 211 pm/ degrees C.     

Widely tunable long-period fiber grating with nm-thick higher refractive index film overlay

By introducing a four-layer step-index waveguide modeling, the characteristics of long-period fiber grating (LPFG) with an nm-thick film overlay, which has higher refractive index than that of fiber cladding are investigated in detail. The influence of both the overlay thickness and refractive index on the tuning ability of LPFG is analyzed. The numerical results demonstrate that spectral response of LPFG is divided into three distinct regions as the overlay deposition increases and the shift of resonant wavelength is drastic in some special thickness range. In conjunction with higher-order cladding mode coupling and fiber cladding etching, the sensitivity of LPFG to the overlay refractive index is enhanced significantly and over 120 nm resonant wavelength tunable range is achieved.     

Optimization of a long-period grating-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer for temperature measurement

An approach to optimize the design of the long-period grating pair as a temperature sensor device is presented, implemented by using a long-period grating (LPG) pair with a small separation (of around 2 mm) and scaling down their physical length by a factor greater than 2. The technique allows the interferometer formed not only to measure temperature variations over distances as small as the overall length of the grating pair (18 mm) but also to reduce the cladding losses between the LPGs forming the pair. This approach enhances the sharpness of the interference fringes (IFs) and the pits (Pts) in the transmission spectrum and, as a result, a high resolution sensor is obtained. The LPG pair is fabricated in the appropriate photosensitive single mode/core fibres, without being restricted to the use of dual core or other special fibres, thus exploiting the sensitivities of various fibres and reducing the overall system cost. In this work, the effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated by fabricating a small-scale LPG pair in a boron-germanium co-doped single mode fibre, with particular attention being paid to the higher order cladding modes. The sensitivity of the device thus created is 0.31 nm/°C with a root-mean-square (rms) deviation of 0.28 nm in the wavelength measurement, which corresponds to a temperature variation of approximately 0.9 °C. This was achieved while using a relatively low-resolution (0.6 nm) Optical Spectrum Analyzer to detect the wavelength changes of the device and was further improved to 0.7 °C when using an OSA with a resolution of 0.1 nm.     

Enhancement of sensitivity in long-period fiber gratings with deposition of low-refractive-index materials

It was proved [Opt. Lett. 30, 720 (2005)] that the deposition of an overlay of higher refractive index than that of the cladding on a long-period fiber grating (LPFG) causes large shifts in the attenuation bands induced by the grating. The result is an enhancement of the sensitivity of the LPFG to variations in the ambient and overlay refractive indices or the overlay thickness. The limitation of the previous design to materials with higher refractive indices than that of the cladding of the LPFG is overcome with a five-layer model. To this purpose, a first overlay of higher refractive index than that of the cladding of the LPFG will enhance the sensitivity of the device to variations in the refractive index of a second overlay of lower refractive index than that of the cladding of the LPFG. Moreover, it is proved that, if the second overlay is thick enough, its behavior resembles that of an infinite layer.