Writing wide bandwidth nonchirped fiber Bragg gratings with high sidelobe suppression ratio by linearly scaling apodization

Abstract

A linearly scaling optical apodization method for laser beam power profile modulation is induced. Changing an amplitude mask position between the beam-focusing cylindrical lens and the fiber can linearly scale the vertical apodization profile; this, in turn, enables the optimization of the grating apodization. By using this method, an apodized fiber Bragg grating (FBG) that is designed as an uncooled pump laser diode stabilizer with the specifications of 4.5% reflectivity, 1.6 nm bandwidth, and the side-lobe suppression ratio (SLSR) of 30 dB was UV-imprinted with a tiny Gaussian amplitude mask. Using the same apodization method, a nonchirped-type FBG edge filter was written with a very smooth spectrum. The grating specifications of 0.5-dB attenuation bandwidth of 3.6 nm and 96.5% reflectivity were achieved. The half-spectrum ascending bandwidth in the longer wavelength side is 2.2 nm with 27-dB SLSR. The linearly scaling apodization method is highly beneficial for optimizing the apodization process of UV-writing shorter FBGs with strong apodization.