Optimized Superimposed Fiber Bragg Gratings to Reduce Birefringence

Effects in WDM Applications

V. García-Muñoz (1), C. Caucheteur (2), S. Bette (2), M. Wuilpart (2), M. A. Preciado (1), M. A. Muriel (1),
P. Mégret (2)
1. Departamento de Tecnología Fotónica, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid,
Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
2. Service d’Electromagnétisme et de Télécommunications, Faculté Polytechnique de Mons,
Boulevard Dolez 31, 7000 Mons, Belgium

Abstract We experimentally demonstrate the reduction of Differential Group Delay and Polarization Dependent
Loss in Superimposed Fiber Bragg Gratings when the fiber is rotated after each inscription, which is of great
importance in WDM applications.

Introduction polarization of the input signal with one of the

Superimposed Fiber Bragg Gratings (SIFBGs) are
multiple passband filters written at the same location
in the core of an optical fiber. The different passband
filters are obtained by varying the grating pitch Λ in
each illumination. SIFBGs are proposed for certain
applications in Wavelength Division Multiplexing
(WDM) optical communications systems. For
instance, and among other applications, SIFBGs are
key devices in Optical Code Division Multiple Access
(OCDMA) systems [1], for multiplying the repetition
rate of pulse trains providing ultra high repetition rate
pulses [2], and in multiwavelength Fabry-Pérot Lasers
[3]. They are also used in optical sensor devices [4].
For both applications, it has become of high
importance to study the grating polarization properties
such as Differential Group Delay (DGD) and
Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) since they affect
the data transmissions.
In the case of single Fiber Bragg Gratins (FBGs), it is
admitted that the side written fabrication process
causes an asymmetry in the refractive index profile in
the plane transversal to the optical axis. This
asymmetry induces a small quantity of birefringence
[5] that combines with the intrinsic fiber birefringence
to lead to a global value. Although this small amount
of birefringence is not easily detectable into the
grating amplitude response, it induces significant
wavelength dependent DGD and PDL in FBGs.
Due to the increasing bit rate, lightwave transmissions
are less tolerant to the polarization effects.
Consequently, using Bragg grating components in the
frame of high-speed WDM systems implies to know
their polarization properties and, when it is possible,
to develop techniques to reduce their effects.
Several techniques for the reduction of the PDL and
DGD have been proposed. The use of spun FBG [6]
provides a reduction of the birefringence, but leads to
the presence of lateral lobes at each side of the
reflection band. For the case of SIFBGs, these lateral
lobes can overlap with the main lobes of the adjacent
filters, which is inappropriate for WDM transmission
systems. High birefringence (Hi-Bi FBGs) can be
used, but a very accurate alignment of the state of
principal axis of the Hi-Bi FBG is needed. Owing to
the constraints presented by spun FBGs and Hi Bi
FBGs, SIFBGs written into standard fiber seem the
most promising solution for WDM applications.
The polarization properties of single FBGs have been
investigated in the past but, up to our knowledge, no
study has been carried out for the case of SIFBG
polarization properties whereas multiple exposures
constitute a more complex problem. In this work, we
propose such a study and we analyze the PDL and
DGD evolution after each illumination. Moreover, in
order to reduce the induced birefringence caused by
the index profile asymmetry during the multiple
exposures, we have used a setup in which the fiber is
rotated by a fixed angle after each illumination.
Birefringence in rotated SIFBGs
SIFBGs are usually fabricated by several irradiations
at the same side of the fiber leading to an increase of
the asymmetry of the refractive index profile. Hence,
the higher the number of irradiations, the higher the
induced birefringence value.
The goal of the rotation is to obtain a more
symmetrical transversal refractive index profile than
for superimposed inscriptions written at the same side
of the fiber. A rotation procedure has been proposed
by Vengsarkar et al for single FBGs [7] in which the
same grating is inscribed twice with a rotation of 180
degrees between the inscriptions. In the SIFBG case,
the rotation angle is chosen as a function of the
number of inscriptions in a way that the angle
between illuminations is constant. When rotating the
fibre between the illuminations, a more symmetrical
transversal profile is obtained yielding to a reduction
of the birefringence. Moreover, the different grating
pitches Λ of each inscription in SIFBGs cause a
variable phase mismatch for the maximum of
illumination along the optical axis of the grating.
Thereby, for the rotated case the polarization axes
present an orientation variation along the optical axis.
The variation of the polarization axes is produced in
the scale of few tens of nm along the optical axe. This
great variation produces polarization mode coupling
all along the grating. Consequently, reduced gratings before achieving refractive index saturation.
polarization effects are expected for this type of
-5 -5 -5

multiple exposures.

Transmitivity (dBm)
-10 -10 -10

-15 -15 -15

Experimental Results -20 -20 -20

-25 -25 -25

Experimental results are presented for triple SIFBG 1536,2 1536,4 1536,6 1535 1536 1537 1535 1536 1537

wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm)

inscribed into a hydrogen-loaded standard single 4 4 4

mode fiber by means of the phase mask technique

DGD (ps)
2 2 2
using a cw frequency-doubled Argon ion laser at 244
nm. The average optical power on the phase mask 0
1536,2 1536,4 1536,6
0
1535 1536 1537
0
1535 1536 1537
wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm)
was about 50 mW. The fiber was also stressed in a 0,6 0,6 0,6

controlled manner after each illumination to tune 0,4 0,4 0,4

PDL (dBm)
accurately the main rejection bands to a separation in 0,2 0,2 0,2

wavelength of 0.8 nm, corresponding to the ITU 0,0

1536,2 1536,4 1536,6
0,0
1535 1536
0,0
1537 1535 1536 1537

standard channel spacing of 100 GHz. An increase of wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm)

the average refractive index of the core is produced

after each inscription, which causes a displacement of Fig. 1 Transmitivity, DGD and PDL after each
the Bragg wavelength to longer values; in our case a illumination with no rotation.
displacement of 0.4 nm after each illumination was
observed.
Transmitivity (dBm)
-10 -10 -10

Measurements of DGD and PDL were performed -20 -20 -20

after each inscription for the standard case and for -30 -30 -30

the rotated case in order to observe the evolution of 1536,2 1536,4 1536,6 1535 1536 1537 1535 1536 1537
10 wavelength (nm) 10 wavelength (nm) 10 wavelength (nm)
the polarization properties for the case with no 8 8 8

rotation and the case with 120 degrees rotation angle

DGD (ps)

6 6 6

4 4 4

after each illumination. In both cases the grating 2 2 2

length was 7 mm. A tunable laser source EXFO 0

1536,2 1536,4 1536,6
0
1535 1536 1537
0
1535 1536 1537

0,6 wavelength (nm) 0,6 wavelength (nm) 0,6 wavelength (nm)

FLS2600B and a polarimeter Profile PAT9000B were
used to measure the transmitted Jones matrix
PDL (dBm)

0,4 0,4 0,4

parameters. To obtian the PDL and the DGD 0,2 0,2 0,2

evolutions with wavelength, we used the Jones matrix
eigenanalysis method described in [8]. In our
experiment, the laser source was tuned with a
wavelength step of 10 pm to ensure a good
compromise between accuracy and measurement
time. During measurements, gratings were free of
mechanical constraints and the ambient temperature
was maintained constant. Moreover, all the fibers
were fixed to avoid polarization instabilities.
The DGD and PDL results presented in Fig. 1 and
Fig. 2 are the average of 5 measurements of the
Jones parameters. For the non rotated case (Fig.1),
we can see that, as the number of inscriptions grows,
the DGD and the PDL increase as a consequence of
a major asymmetry in the refractive index profile after
each illumination. The observed increase of the DGD
and PDL with the number of inscriptions would limit
the applicability of SIFBGs in WDM systems. A
saturation of the refractive index is also expected,
limiting the number of achievable inscriptions. In Fig.
2 we observe a reduction of the DGD and the PDL
after each inscription when there is a rotation
between consecutive illuminations. Note that even
though the average refractive index increases after
each illumination, the polarization related effects
decrease. The rotation also provides a more
symmetrical distribution of the illuminated zones,
allowing the inscription of a greater number of
1536,2 1536,4 1536,6 1535 1536 1537 1535 1536 1537
wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm) wavelength (nm)
Fig. 2 Transmitivity, DGD and PDL after each
illumination for the rotated case (120 degrees).
Conclusions
In this paper a very simple method for the
symmetrization of the induced refractive index in
SIFBGs is presented. We experimentally demonstrate
that a reduction of the polarizations effects is
observed after each inscription in the rotated case,
contrarily to the non rotated one.
V. García-Muñoz is supported by Spanish MEC under
Project Plan Nacional I+D+I TEC2004-04754-C03-02.
C. Caucheteur is supported by the F.S.R-FNRS.
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