Chirped diffraction grating optical switching

Peter L. Fuhr; Stevan Spremo

doi:10.1117/12.467464

14 May 2002 Chirped diffraction grating optical switching

Peter L. Fuhr, Stevan Spremo

Proceedings Volume 4638, Optical Devices for Fiber Communication III; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.467464
Event: High-Power Lasers and Applications, 2002, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

While fiber optic Bragg grating sensors have emerged as a viable commercial product and principle component within numerous fiber optic components, they possess the inherent inflexibility that once written, the nonstressed grating spacing is fixed. An alternative method of fabricating Bragg gratings where a photosensitive fiber core material (similar to that used in photogrey sunglasses) exists at the grating site along the fiber has been examined. As opposed to a conventional grating writing method using lateral illumination of the fiber core, in this instance the diffraction rating is written via a deliberate intensity variation in the light which is injected into the fiber. The slight difference in refractive index between the photogrey section of the core and the regular fiber causes an internal Fabry-Perot resonator cavity to be established. By using an intensity-modulated high power laser, the illuminating modulation pattern reflects back and forth within this cavity establishing a standing wave pattern. Different patterns may be launched into the fiber resulting in a grating spacing which is variable. This standing wave pattern effectively illuminates the photogrey section nonuniformly with the high power portions of the standing wave pattern causing more darkening - thereby in essence creating the Bragg diffraction grating. Removal of this illumination source results in a grating that fades away yielding a re-writable component. An examination of this type or re-writable component will be reported along with its suitability for 100- and 5-GHz DWDM applications.

Citation Download Citation

Peter L. Fuhr and Stevan Spremo "Chirped diffraction grating optical switching", Proc. SPIE 4638, Optical Devices for Fiber Communication III, (14 May 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.467464

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available