Reversible photo-induced long-period fiber gratings in photonic liquid crystal fibers

Opt Express. 2011 Mar 28;19(7):6756-61. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.006756.

Abstract

A novel light-controllable long-period fiber grating (LPFG) is demonstrated by making use of a PCF infiltrated with a photoresponsive liquid crystal (LC) mixture consisting of nematic LC molecules and light-sensitive 4-methoxyazobenzene (4MAB). With the aid of the photo-induced isomerization of 4MAB, the refractive index of the LC mixture can be modulated and the periodic index perturbation along the fiber can be achieved by exposing the PCF to a blue laser through a mask. The resonance wavelength and dip depth of the LPFG can be controlled by using different blue-laser irradiation time, numbers of period, and 4MAB concentrations. In addition, the photo-induced LPFG is erasable under green-laser illumination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Fiber Optic Technology / instrumentation*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Liquid Crystals / radiation effects
  • Photons
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*