Fabrication of helical long-period fiber gratings by use of a CO2 laser

We present a method of helical long-period fiber grating (H-LPFG) fabrication by use of a CO2 laser for use as an optical torque sensor. A conventional optical fiber grating has periodic vertical index changes along its fiber axis, but a H-LPFG has a screw-type index modulation. The helical index modulation is obtained with the asymmetric index change caused by a single-side laser beam exposure. The H-LPFG shows peak shifts with codirectional or contradirectional torsion to the helix. Also, the polarization-dependent loss is measured to be relatively small compared with that of a conventional long-period fiber grating.     

Improving the Performance of All-Optical Wavelength Converters Using Fiber Gratings

We show that spectral filtering using a fiber Bragg grating as an optical discriminator improves the performance of semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) wavelength converters. This technique increases the operation speed and reduces the data patterning effect of SOAs for non-return-to-zero (NRZ)operation. For return-to-zero (RZ) operation the fiber grating increases extinction ratio and preserves the data polarity. We use this technique to obtain error-free wavelength conversion of NRZ data at 10 Gb s in an SOA with 6 GHz dynamic bandwidth. We also use the SOA fiber grating to convert RZ data at 10 Gb s and show that the converted pulses can propagate error free over 20,000 km in a dispersion-managed system.     

Polarization-independent grating couplers for silicon-on-insulator nanophotonic waveguides

We propose the use of subwavelength structures in a waveguide grating to achieve polarization-independent coupling of light between an optical fiber and a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) optical waveguide. The subwavelength structure allows the mode effective indices of the TE and TM modes in the grating section to be precisely engineered. We calculate that coupling efficiency of over 64% is possible using the proposed design for polarization-independent coupling between single-mode optical fibers and SOI nanophotonic waveguides.     

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.     

High efficiency grating coupler between silicon-on-insulator waveguides and perfectly vertical optical fibers

A high-efficiency waveguide-to-fiber grating coupler for silicon-on-insulator waveguides was designed. Perfectly vertical fiber coupling is achieved by using an asymmetric grating structure to suppress the second-order Bragg reflection from the grating. The ability to use a perfectly vertical positioned optical fiber simplifies the packaging of the photonic integrated circuit. A coupling efficiency of 80% at a wavelength of 1.55 microm is obtained.     

Multiple-element photonic microwave true-time-delay beamforming incorporating a tunable chirped fiber Bragg grating with symmetrical bending technique

We experimentally demonstrate a novel scheme for a multiple-element photonic microwave true-time-delay device with high tunability based on a tunable chirped fiber Bragg grating without center wavelength shift. We achieve the different true time delay by controlling the grating period of a chirped fiber Bragg grating based on the symmetrical bending technique as a multiwavelength signal source is applied to carry microwave signals. The proposed method does not require the complex structure of systems, wavelength tuning, and synchronization of optical devices such as tunable bandpass filters and optical input signals. We achieve the tunabilty of the time delay for a microwave signal carried over an optical signal in a range from 1 to 230 ps.     

Experimental verification of response of embedded optical fiber Bragg grating sensors in non-homogeneous strain fields

One of the advantages of optical fiber sensors is their ease of embedment within a structure for non-destructive strain monitoring. In particular, Bragg grating sensors are written directly into an optical fiber hence remaining unobtrusive. In addition, several gratings can be written in series along a single fiber, permitting sensing at discrete points throughout the strain field. However, in regions of strong strain gradients, measuring the strain at discrete points may not be sufficient. One solution is to write a Bragg grating longer than the strain region of interest and use the change in its spectral response to determine the applied strain field as a function of position along the fiber. This paper presents an experimental verification of the response of an embedded optical fiber Bragg grating (OFBG) to applied non-homogeneous strain fields. Optical fiber Bragg grating sensors were embedded in four epoxy specimens of different forms so as to apply known strain functions along the gauge length when the specimen is under uniaxial tension. The complete spectral response of the Bragg gratings was then measured as a function of increasing load. The results are compared with analytical calculations, based on the piecewise-uniform period assumption for chirped gratings. Finally, the use of these spectra is discussed as possible basis functions for the resolution of an arbitrary applied strain distribution.     

Observation of type I and type II gratings behavior in polymer optical fiber

We report the first observation of type I and type II fiber grating behaviors in making polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings. Our observation reveals that there are two distinctive stages in the fabrication of polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings. Notably the two stages of grating formation correspond to low and high-index modulation gratings, which match well with those in silica fiber grating fabrication. Thus we refer them as type I and type II polymer fiber gratings, following the same nomenclatures for different types of silica fiber gratings. In addition, the characteristics and formation mechanism for type I and type II polymer fiber gratings are also examined.     

40-GHz pulse-train generation at 1.5 mum with a chirped fiber grating as a frequency multiplier

Pulse-train multiplication based on the temporal Talbot effect in a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating has been experimentally demonstrated. A 40-GHz repetition-rate, nearly transform-limited 10-ps duration optical pulse train at 1.533 mum has been obtained from a 2.5-GHz mode-locked Er- Yb:glass laser by use of a 100-cm-long linearly chirped apodized fiber grating.     

基于光纤光栅光谱分析的混凝土结构钢筋锈蚀监测

混凝土中钢筋发生锈蚀会严重影响混凝土结构的使用功能,文章提出了通过观察长周期光纤光栅(LPFG)的透射谱变化对混凝土结构中的钢筋锈蚀进行监测。这种方法基于长周期光纤光栅的微弯特性,利用其透射光谱随弯曲度增加逐渐变浅、谐振波长处的光功率与LPFG的弯曲度成线性这一特性,将钢筋锈蚀引起的钢筋径向膨胀转化为光栅的弯曲,通过监测光栅的光谱变化获知光栅的弯曲度进而判断钢筋的锈蚀程度,该方法对钢筋直接进行监测,简单易行,并利用光栅的光谱特性从而避免了环境温度、应变、折射率的影响,实验将光栅埋入到混凝土构件中,从已取得的实验结果来看,这种方法测量钢筋锈蚀厚度的准确度可达1.2 μm,可监测到的锈蚀厚度达3 mm,完全能够实现混凝土结构中钢筋锈蚀的早期至中期监测。     

Optical bit-pattern recognition by use of dynamic gratings in erbium-doped fiber

We present a novel optical bit-pattern-recognition technique that uses erbium-doped fiber at room temperature. Counterpropagating beams write a patterned gain-depletion grating in pumped erbium-doped fiber. This grating, recorded in the erbium gain medium, can be used for correlation with other optical bit patterns. We have demonstrated correlation of arbitrary return-to-zero bit patterns of as many as 8 bits at 1 Gbit/s . Theory suggests that scaling to higher bit rates is feasible.     

Propagation of ultrashort pulses in a nonlinear long-period fiber grating

By solving a pair of normalized nonlinear coupled-mode equations, we analyze in detail the propagation of ultrashort optical pulses in a nonlinear long-period fiber grating and investigate the conditions for the grating to function as an optical limiter or a saturable absorber. We show that the function of the grating depends on whether the nonlinear effect counteracts or enhances the detuning effect, and the nonlinear effect can be weakened significantly by the group-delay difference between the core mode and the coupled cladding mode. We present simulation results to illustrate these effects and discuss the physical conditions required for an effective operation of a nonlinear long-period grating.     

Group-delay ripple correction in chirped fiber Bragg gratings

Group-delay ripple (GDR) introduced by systematic and random errors in chirped fiber Bragg grating fabrication is the most significant impediment to application of these devices in optical communication systems. We suggest and demonstrate a novel iterative procedure for GDR correction by subsequent UV exposure by use of a simple solution of the inverse problem for the coupled-wave equation. Our method is partly based but does not fully rely on the accuracy of this solution. In the experiment we achieved substantial reduction of the low-frequency group-delay ripple, from +/- 15 to +/- 2 ps, which resulted in dramatic improvement of the optical signal-to-noise-ratio system penalty, from 7 to less than 1 dB, for a chirped fiber Bragg grating used as a dispersion compensator in a 40-Gbit/s carrier-suppressed return-to-zero system.     

A novel 852-nm tunable fiber laser

We report a novel fiber laser operating at 850-nm band by using semiconductor optical amplifier and fiber grating. The laser system is stable, compact, and the operating wavelength can be tuned continuously from about 851 to 854 nm for Cs atomic clock system by stretching the fiber grating. An output power up to 20 mW is obtained with a signal-to-background ratio beyond 20 dB.     

Polymer Optical Fiber Photosensitivities and Highly Tunable Fiber Gratings

In this paper, recent progress in the investigation of photosensitivities of polymer optical fibers and the development of polymer optical fiber grating is reported. Photosensitivities in various polymer fibers, including doped and undoped, multimode and single-mode polymer fibers, have been experimentally characterized and evaluated for fiber grating application. In particular, the wavelength dependence of material absorption and photosensitivity has been found essential to the fabrication of polymer optical fiber grating. Based on the results of photosensitivity research, polymer optical fiber gratings have been successfully fabricated. More importantly, polymer optical fiber grating has been demonstrated highly tunable, with a tuning range more than 70 nm. The unique feature of high tunability in polymer optical fiber grating has great potential in various applications including optical fiber WDM systems and fiber sensor systems. Several important issues that remain to be investigated will also be discussed.     

Polymer Optical Fiber Photosensitivities and Highly Tunable Fiber Gratings

In this paper, recent progress in the investigation of photosensitivities of polymer optical fibers and the development of polymer optical fiber grating is reported. Photosensitivities in various polymer fibers, including doped and undoped, multimode and single-mode polymer fibers, have been experimentally characterized and evaluated for fiber grating application. In particular, the wavelength dependence of material absorption and photosensitivity has been found essential to the fabrication of polymer optical fiber grating. Based on the results of photosensitivity research, polymer optical fiber gratings have been successfully fabricated. More importantly, polymer optical fiber grating has been demonstrated highly tunable, with a tuning range more than 70 nm. The unique feature of high tunability in polymer optical fiber grating has great potential in various applications including optical fiber WDM systems and fiber sensor systems. Several important issues that remain to be investigated will also be discussed.     

Fiber Bragg grating as an optical filter tuned by a magnetic field

We describe a novel tunable optical filter for use in optical-frequency-domain multiplexed communication systems. The shift in the Bragg condition of a fiber Bragg grating as a result of magnetically induced circular birefringence is calculated with coupled-mode theory on the basis of circular states of polarization, and the values obtained for silica and terbium-doped optical fibers are compared.     

Proposal and design of an in-fiber all-optical fractional integrator

We theoretically and numerically demonstrate that a single fiber Bragg grating – conveniently apodized and of uniform period – operated in reflection can perform an arbitrary-order fractional integration of an input optical waveform. Analytical expressions were found relating the fractional integration order with the apodization profile of the fiber Bragg grating. This simple device shows a good accuracy calculating the fractional time integral of the complex field of arbitrary input optical waveforms.     

Amplification of optical delay by use of matched linearly chirped fiber Bragg gratings

We describe the use of a matched linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) pair as a key element in an adjustable optical delay line. This delay line has the unique property that the achievable optical group delay is orders of magnitude greater (factor of 10(2) in our experiment) than the actual physical displacement. We demonstrate operation of such an optical delay line over a delay range of 3.5 mm using a pair of matched 1300-nm chirped FBGs with a bandwidth of 20 nm each.     

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。