Fabrication of multiple Bragg gratings in microstructured polymer fibers using a phase mask with several diffraction orders

Experimental Analysis of Bragg Reflection Peak Splitting in Gratings Fabricated Using a Multiple Order Phase Mask

We performed an experimental analysis of the effect of phase mask alignment on the Bragg grating reflection spectra around the wavelength of λ_B = 1560 nm fabricated in polymer optical fiber by using a multiple order phase mask. We monitored the evolution of the reflection spectra for different values of the angle ϕ by describing the tilt between the phase mask and the fiber. We observed that the peak at λ_B is split into five separate peaks for the nonzero tilt and that separation of the peaks increases linearly with ϕ. Through comparison with theoretical data we were able to identify the five peaks as products of different grating periodicities, which are associated with the interference of different pairs of diffraction orders on the phase mask.

Zeonex-PMMA microstructured polymer optical FBGs for simultaneous humidity and temperature sensing

In this Letter, we report for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the fabrication and characterization of a Zeonex/PMMA microstructured polymer optical fiber (mPOF) Bragg grating sensor for simultaneous monitoring of relative humidity (RH) and temperature. The sensing element (probe) is based on two separate in-line fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) inscribed in the fabricated mPOF. A root mean square deviation of 0.8% RH and 0.6°C in the range of 10%-90% RH and 20°C-80°C was found. The developed mPOFBG sensor constitutes an efficient route toward low-cost, easy-to-fabricate and compact multi-parameter sensing solutions.

Fabrication of Polymer Optical Fibre (POF) Gratings

Gratings inscribed in polymer optical fibre (POF) have attracted remarkable interest for many potential applications due to their distinctive properties. This paper overviews the current state of fabrication of POF gratings since their first demonstration in 1999. In particular we summarize and discuss POF materials, POF photosensitivity, techniques and issues of fabricating POF gratings, as well as various types of POF gratings.

Inscription of long period gratings using an ultraviolet laser beam in the diffusion-doped microstructured polymer optical fiber

We show that diffusion of azobenzene from the solution in methanol into a cladding of a polymer fiber facilitates fabrication of long period gratings by the use of a He-Cd focused laser beam. We have measured a diffusion rate into PMMA cladding of the microstructured fibers annealed in advance at different temperatures and showed that the diffusion rate is strongly affected by temperature treatment of the fiber. We have also investigated an impact of the azobenzene diffusion on fiber spectral loss and cladding surface quality. Furthermore, we have examined a temporal stability of the fabricated long period gratings and their response to temperature and tensile strain.

Polarization effects in polymer FBGs: study and use for transverse force sensing

Bragg gratings photo-inscribed in polymer optical fibers (POFs) are more sensitive to temperature and pressure than their silica counterparts, because of their larger thermo-optic coefficient and smaller Young's modulus. Polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (POFBGs) are most often photo-written in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) based materials using a continuous-wave 325 nm HeCd laser. In this work, we present the first study about birefringence effects in POFBGs manufactured in different types of fiber. To achieve this, highly reflective (> 90%) gratings were produced with the phase mask technique. Their spectral response was then monitored in transmission with polarized light. Polarization dependent loss (PDL) and differential group delay (DGD) were computed from the Jones matrix eigenanalysis using an optical vector analyzer. Maximum values exceeding several dB and a few picoseconds were obtained for the PDL and DGD, respectively. An inverse scattering technique applied to the experimental data provided an estimate of the photo-induced birefringence value arising from the side fabrication process. The response to lateral force was finally investigated for various incident directions using the PDL response of FBGs manufactured in step-index POFs. As the force induced birefringence adds to the photo-induced one, a force dependent evolution of the PDL maximum value was noticed, with a good temperature-insensitivity.

Simultaneous 2D strain sensing using polymer planar Bragg gratings

We demonstrate the application of polymer planar Bragg gratings for multi-axial strain sensing and particularly highlight simultaneous 2D strain measurement. A polymer planar Bragg grating (PPBG) fabricated with a single writing step in bulk polymethylmethacrylate is used for measuring both tensile and compressive strain at various angles. It is shown that the sensitivity of the PPBG strongly depends on the angle between the optical waveguide into which the grating is inscribed and the direction along which the mechanical load is applied. Additionally, a 2D PPBG fabricated by writing two Bragg gratings angularly displaced from each other into a single polymer platelet is bonded to a stainless steel plate. The two reflected wavelengths exhibit different sensitivities while tested toward tensile and compressive strain. These characteristics make 2D PPBG suitable for measuring multi-axial tensile and compressive strain.

Tilted Bragg gratings in step-index polymer optical fiber

We report the first slightly tilted Bragg gratings photo-inscription in polymer optical fiber (POF). For this, we make use of trans-4-stilbenemethanol-doped photosensitive step-index poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) POFs. Tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) are inscribed in the near-infrared wavelength range using the scanning phase mask technique with a tilted phase mask in the plane perpendicular to the laser beam direction. The transmitted amplitude spectrum evolution of a 3° TFBG is analyzed as a function of the surrounding refractive index. A maximum sensitivity close to 13  nm/RIU (refractive index unit) is obtained in the range 1.42-1.49.

Rocking filter induced mechanically in a highly birefringent microstructured polymer fiber

We present the possibility of mechanical inducement of a rocking filter in a birefringent microstructured polymer fiber, which resonantly couples polarization modes. A birefringence in the fiber used for rocking filter fabrication is induced by two large holes adjacent to the core. Because of the small pitch distance of the microstructured cladding, the phase and the group modal birefringence in this fiber are relatively high and equal, respectively, 1.2×10^-4 and -2×10^-4 at λ=800  nm, while the fiber loss is 5  dB/m at λ=850  nm. We demonstrate transmission characteristics of rocking filters mechanically induced in this fiber. A 22 dB deep first-order resonance located in the visible spectral range was observed, accompanied by a second-order resonance in the near-infrared. We also show that by changing the filter period and load applied to the fiber, one can tune the resonance position and depth.

Highly reflective Bragg gratings in slightly etched step-index polymer optical fiber

During the past few years, a strong progress has been made in the photo-writing of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in polymer optical fibers (POFs), animated by the constant wish to enhance the grating reflectivity and improve the sensing performances. In this paper, we report the photo-inscription of highly reflective gratings in step-index POFs, obtained thanks to a slight etching of the cladding. We demonstrate that a cladding diameter decrease of ~12% is an ideal trade-off to produce highly reflective gratings with enhanced axial strain sensitivity, while keeping almost intact their mechanical resistance. For this, we make use of Trans-4-stilbenemethanol-doped photosensitive step-index poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) POFs. FBGs are inscribed at ~1550 nm by the scanning phase mask technique in POFs of different external diameters. Reflectivity reaching 97% is achieved for 6 mm long FBGs, compared to 25% for non-etched POFs. We also report that a cladding decrease enhances the FBG axial tension while keeping unchanged temperature and surrounding refractive index sensitivities. Finally and for the first time, a measurement is conducted in transmission with polarized light, showing that a photo-induced birefringence of 7 × 10(-6) is generated (one order of magnitude higher than the intrinsic fiber birefringence), which is similar to the one generated in silica fiber using ultra-violet laser.

Bragg grating writing in PMMA microstructured polymer optical fibers in less than 7 minutes

We demonstrate fiber Bragg grating (FBG) writing in PMMA microstructured Polymer Optical Fibers (mPOFs) using UV Phase Mask technique with writing times shorter than 10 min. The shortest writing time was 6 minutes and 50 seconds and the longest writing time was 8 min and 50 sec. The FBGs were written in a 125 µm PMMA mPOF having 3-rings of holes, the reflection peaks were centred at 632.6 nm and have a reflectivity as high as 26 dB. We also demonstrate how the writing dynamics depends on the intensity of the writing beam.

Origin of Bragg reflection peaks splitting in gratings fabricated using a multiple order phase mask

We have studied the effect of waveguide alignment on the reflection spectrum of Bragg gratings fabricated using a multiple order phase mask. We have demonstrated that splitting of certain Bragg peaks observed in earlier experiments reported in literature is caused by formation of the gratings with different periodicities in the waveguide tilted with respect to the phase mask plane due to the interference of non-symmetrical diffraction orders. Analytical expressions for spectral separation of the split peaks have been derived and verified against the experimental data recently presented in literature. The analytical predictions were also confirmed by numerical simulations of intensity distributions behind the multiple order diffraction grating and its projection on the tilted waveguide.