The use of long-period gratings (LPGs) to distribute optical power from one core to all the cores in a multicore fiber (MCF) is theoretically analyzed. Simple analytical expressions that describe the mode power's evolution along the LPGs are derived from the coupled mode equations. This study demonstrated the power transfer between cores in a MCF promoted by identical LPGs. Moreover, with this technique, the pump signal can be distributed to all the cores without interfering with the transmission signals.

We propose a technique to inscribe long period gratings (LPGs) in standard single-mode fibers (SSMFs). The proposed method uses a commercial CO₂ splicer that allows for the rotation of the fiber during laser irradiation, enabling a uniform exposure around the fiber. LPGs inscribed in SSMFs with different periods are presented. Gratings can be reproduced with a maximum difference between resonant wavelength values of less than 1 nm. Furthermore, it is possible to inscribe gratings with attenuation dips of -25  dB while at the same time obtaining polarization-dependent losses as low as 2 dB.

A configurable optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) based on fibre Bragg gratings is reported. Dynamically selection of the add-drop or pass-through functionality is realised according to the control of an optical switch. OADM performances measurements in a 70 km, 3 x 2.5 Gb/s channels WDM network are reported.

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