Open AccessEffect of CO 2 Laser Annealing on Stress Applying Parts Contributing Toward Birefringence Modification in Regenerated Grating in Polarization Maintaining Fiber
Author(s) -
Man-Hong Lai,
Kok-Sing Lim,
Md. Rajibul Islam,
Dinusha S. Gunawardena,
Hang-Zhou Yang,
Harith Ahmad
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
ieee photonics journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1943-0655
pISSN - 1943-0647
DOI - 10.1109/jphot.2015.2477496
Subject(s) - engineered materials, dielectrics and plasmas , photonics and electrooptics
In this paper, we have demonstrated birefringence modification in regenerated grating in polarization maintaining fiber (RGPMF) by using a CO2 laser annealing technique. After conducting an isothermal annealing procedure followed by a slow cooling process, the birefringence of the RGPMF has been increased. This phenomenon can be explained by the changes in the thermal expansion coefficient and glass transition temperature of the stress applying part at different cooling rates. This process was reversible by reannealing with a subsequent fast cooling process. In our observation, the birefringence exponentially increases with a decreasing cooling rate. The highest and lowest records in the birefringence throughout the annealing process are 4.72 × 10-4 and 3.46 × 10-4, respectively (a difference of 1.26 × 10-4). This finding is useful for the study of the birefringence modification, measurement range, sensitivity, and accuracy of PMF or PMF-related devices.