Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG)

Brigitta Septriani
Abbe School of Photonics
Friedrich-Schiller University
Wide application using photonics through FBG

Railway Global Structural Fiber

System Aerospace Monitoring Lasers
Telecommunication

Impact more than

$100 Billion
 Content

1. How FBG works

Objective 2. Grating formation principle
Compact scientific and 3. FBG fabrication methods
practical introduction to 4. Demand of accuracy
FBGs fabrication. 5. Practical example:
broadened/chirped FBG
What is FBGs and How does it work?

An FBG is a reflective device composed of an optical fiber that contains a modulation of its core
refractive index over a certain length.
Energy conservation
hvi=hvf

Typically n 10-5 - 10-3 Momentum conservation

ki+K=kf

Bragg wavevector K=2/

2 * (2neff/B) = 2/

Bragg condition
B= 2neff
[1] Wikipedia. Fiber Bragg Gratings. Last accessed: 5 Jun 2017
[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.
What is FBGs and How does it work?

B= 2neff

[3] National Science Foundation. The Sensor Revolution Last accessed: 5

Jun 2017
 Photosensitivity
Permanent change in index of refraction of fiber core using light

Most common: germanium with UV light

(240-250nm)
Photochemical process leads to creation
of defects.

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

 Photosensitivity
Permanent change in index of refraction of fiber core using light

Change of absorbance near resonance

frequency due to defects.
Krammers-Kronnig relationship between
absorbance and index of refraction

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

FBGs fabrication methods

Interferometry
Phase-mask lithography
Point-by-Point inscription
FBGs fabrication methods: UV-light interferometry

Amplitude-splitting interferometery

Cylindrical lens focus beam to a line

+ Deliver any desired Bragg

wavelength:
=w/2sin

- High demand of mechanical

stability

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

FBGs fabrication methods: Phase mask lithography

Phase mask : one-dimensional periodic surface relief structure

+ Minimal mechanical stability required

+ Relaxing the temporal and spatial coherence

requirement.

- Not straightforward for varying Bragg grating

[5] Laser Focus World. Optics Fabrication: Fiber Bragg Gratings fabrication
is automated. Last accessed: 5 Jun 2017
FBGs fabrication methods: Point-by-point inscription

Depends on the photon flux on the image

plane inside the fiber.

+ Flexibility for varying grating

parameter
+ No coherence restriction

- Tedious process: expensive

translation stage, high overall
stability throughout long process.

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

 Demand of accuracy
Critical FBG properties

UV radiation exposure for a few minutes at

intensities 100-1000mJ/cm2

Mechanical stability and positional accuracy

Nanometer range stability
Positional precision for serial inscription

[6] FBGS. All grating products. Last accessed : 5 Jun 2017

 Grating period, index of refraction center wavelength accuracy
Repeatability in production depends on phase-mask and fiber reliability

[6] FBGS. All grating products. Last accessed : 5 Jun 2017

Demand of accuracy
Critical FBG properties

FBG length, modulation depth Reflectance bandwidth

Common : multiple peaks of maxima in side lobes of reflectance
Apodization : varying depth of index modulation

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

 Broadened/Chirped FBG
Varying FBG period

B(z)= 2neff(z)(z)

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

Broadened/Chirped FBG
Important characteristics

Compensation of chromatic
dispersion in data transmission

[7] Photonics Media. Fiber Bragg Gratings: a versatile approach to

dispersion compensation. Last accessed: 5 June 2017
Broadened/Chirped FBG
Fabrication

Chirped FBG using ultrashort femtosecond IR laser.

[8] C. Voigtlander, et. al. Ultrashort pu;se inscription of tailored fiber Bragg gratings with a phase mask and a deformed
wavefront. Opt. Matter Express 1 (4), 2011.
 Fiber Bragg Grating is an important photonics
micro-device with versatile application in
telecommunication and sensing.

Fabrication of Fiber Bragg Gratings utilizes

photosensitivity of doped fiber using pulsed and
In shaped UV-beam.

summary, High demand of accuracy in modulating index of

refraction inside the optical fiber (stability, laser
coherence, phase-mask error).

For-real life application, Fiber Bragg Gratings

often has varying parameter, like in apodized
FBG and chirped FBG.
References and further readings

[1] Wikipedia. Fiber Bragg Gratings. Last accessed: 5 Jun 2017

[2] A. Othonos, R. Kyriacos, Fiber Bragg Gratings, Artech House, 1999.

[3] National Science Foundation. The Sensor Revolution Last accessed: 5 Jun 2017
[4] K. O. Hill, G. Meltz, FIber Bragg Grating technology fundamentals and overview. Journal of Lightwave
Technology 15(8), 1997.
[5] Laser Focus World. Optics Fabrication: Fiber Bragg Gratings fabrication is automated. Last
accessed: 5 Jun 2017
[6] FBGS. All grating products. Last accessed : 5 Jun 2017

[7] Photonics Media. Fiber Bragg Gratings: a versatile approach to dispersion compensation. Last
accessed: 5 June 2017
[8] C. Voigtlander, et. al. Ultrashort pu;se inscription of tailored fiber Bragg gratings with a phase mask
and a deformed wavefront. Opt. Matter Express 1 (4), 2011.
Thank You