Abstract
We experimentally demonstrate the first polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings inscribed with only one Nd:YAG laser (266 nm) pulse. The gratings have been inscribed in a single-mode poly (methyl methacrylate) optical fiber, with a core doped with benzyl dimethyl ketal for photosensitivity enhancement. One laser pulse with a duration of 8 ns and energy of 72 µJ is adequate to introduce a refractive index change of 0.5 × 10-4 in the fiber core. The stability of the gratings has been confirmed and the strain and temperature sensitivity measurements demonstrate their tunable properties.
Highlights
The study and development of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) began in the 1970s with Hill's work on the non-linear properties of silica optical fibers (SOFs) doped with germanium [1]
We experimentally demonstrate the first polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings inscribed with only one Nd:YAG laser (266 nm) pulse
The gratings have been inscribed in a single-mode poly optical fiber, with a core doped with benzyl dimethyl ketal for photosensitivity enhancement
Summary
The study and development of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) began in the 1970s with Hill's work on the non-linear properties of silica optical fibers (SOFs) doped with germanium [1]. Using low energy density as well as low repetition rate from a 248 nm laser, a refractive index modification in PMMA bulk material was confirmed without introducing the ablation effect [19]. Despite the photosensitivity mechanisms not being fully understood, the chemical structure of the polymer can be altered either by photo-polymerization, or by photo-crosslinking, or by photodegradation [24,25] All these mechanisms can possibly co-exist under UV irradiation, and which one prevails over the other depends on the irradiation conditions: laser wavelength, intensity and total exposure time [24]. For the 248 nm excimer KrF laser, the inscription time for undoped PMMA-POF is less than 30 seconds [19,23], due to the higher absorption of the material at this wavelength. The implementation of smaller dimension and cheaper lasers in the fabrication of POFBGs is increasingly important to develop simple and viable inscription systems and potentially reduce POFBGs fabrication costs
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