Wavelength tuning, chirping and thermally induced decay of type IA FBGs using purely optical methods

Abstract

We report experimental measurements of reversible wavelength tuning, chirping and permanent thermally induced decay of type 1A fibre Bragg gratings using purely optical means. The grating properties are modified in a controlled manner by utilising the characteristics of the intrinsic 1400nm absorption band of the optical fibre and two tuneable lasers coincident with that band. It is shown that the type 1A grating can be selectively tuned in a grating network and that selective tuning can be attained in a common section of suitably prepared optical fibre. Applications of this approach for tuning fibre lasers or edge filter modification in sensing applications are discussed.