Ns-duration transient Bragg gratings in silica fibers

Opt Lett. 2017 Nov 15;42(22):4748-4751. doi: 10.1364/OL.42.004748.

Abstract

We demonstrate, for the first time to our knowledge, fast all-optical switching in standard silica fibers, based on a transient Bragg grating. The grating is implemented in the fiber using an immunization photo-pretreatment process, followed by side illumination with femtosecond laser pulses through a suitable phase mask. Each pulse is nonlinearly absorbed, creating a thermal grating that is washed out by thermal diffusion. Reflections measured from such gratings are characterized by a very fast rise time, nanoseconds duration, and a high extinction ratio.