Reliability of fibre Bragg gratings in polymer optical fibre

Abstract

In this paper we report on investigations of some of the factors that have a bearing on the reliability and repeatability of polymer fibre Bragg gratings. The main issues discussed are the fibre preform composition, the fibre drawing conditions and the thermal history of the fibre grating.

Research Activities Arising From the University of Kent

“…Pristine silica fiber has a typical failure strain of 5%-10%, though achieving this in a practical environment is quite difficult and under repeated straining the fiber often fails at less than 1%. PMMA based POF can survive strain in excess of 100%, though this depends on how the fiber is drawn; lower drawing tension tends to provide a greater failure strain [41]. Of course such strains are well beyond the quasi-elastic region which tends to be in the range of 5%-10%.…”

“…The use of POF is not without some significant difficulties [41]: 1)Fiber losses are much higher than for silica.…”