Mechanically formed loss-tunable long-period fiber gratings realized on the periodic arrayed metal wires

A new method to tune the peak loss of mechanically formed long-period fiber gratings (MLPFGs) is proposed. Periodic arrayed metal wires are used to obtain the gratings along a single mode fiber (SMF). Self-maintaining gratings are achieved by the bonding force of an UV-adhesive between two glass plates. The initial index modulation formed at room temperature creates a maximum attenuation of -9 dB and -12 dB for coated and uncoated SMF, respectively. By changing the temperature, the peak loss is tuned due to the large thermal expansion of the UV-adhesive. Thermally tunable characteristics caused by the coating layer of the SMF are also described and compared with the results of the device with an uncoated SMF. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved