Fibre bragg gratings for microwave photonics and sensing

Abstract

This thesis presents details on the fabrication of microwave transversal filters using fibre Bragg grating arrays and the building of fibre Bragg grating based magnetic-field sensors. Some theoretical background about fibre Bragg gratings, photosensitivity, fibre Bragg grating sensors and filters are presented. Fibre Bragg grating sensors in other industrial applications are highlighted. Some sensing principles are also introduced. Experimental work is carried out to demonstrate a magnetic-field sensor using an established fibre Bragg grating strain sensor. System performance and trade-off are discussed. The most important part of this thesis is on the fabrication of photonic transversal filter using fibre Bragg grating arrays. In order to improve the filter performance, a novel tap multiplexing structure is presented. Further improving approaches such as apodisation are also investigated. The basis of nonrecirculating filter, some structure and performance are introduced.