Observations from direct UV-written, non-hydrogen-loaded, thermally regenerated Bragg gratings in double-clad photosensitive fiber.

Abstract

In this Letter, experimental evidence is provided for an enhanced thermal sensitivity for a double thermal regeneration feature in fiber Bragg gratings fabricated by direct ultraviolet (UV) writing. Here 47 gratings of varying fluence and wavelength were written along a double-clad, germanium-doped core fiber. Subsequently thermal processing without hydrogen loading the fiber was performed and thermal treatment was carried out in a pure oxygen environment. Thermal sensitivity for the double regeneration increased from 13.6±0.3 pm/°C to 21.3±0.2 pm/°C. Furthermore, one of the highest nominal fluence gratings, #45, exhibited a regeneration factor of 1.73.