Ultrashort Long-Period Fiber Grating Sensors Inscribed on a Single Mode Fiber Using CO2 Laser Radiation

Abstract

Sensing performances of ultrashort (as low as 2.4 mm) long-period fiber gratings fabricated with CO2 laser radiation using commercial single mode fibers are presented. These lengths are, to our knowledge, the shortest of those found in the literature for this kind of sensors, approaching those typical in fiber Bragg gratings. Sensitivity to temperature and refractive index are demonstrated, with performances within the range expected for a single LPFG written on a single mode fiber without any enhancing technique. Analysis on results is made based on both theoretical and experimental data.