Silicon induced in situ hole formation in optical fibers

Long period gratings on random hole optical fibers and microstructured disordered fibers

“…This involves a processing step whereby solvent softening and mechanical removal of the exterior polymer coating of the fibers is achieved. Gratings were fabricated on the fibers using a computer-assisted arc discharge system [8,9]. The method is based on periodic softening and re-solidification of areas of the fiber during application of a uniaxial tensile stress of 1 to 3 grams.…”

“…The tubes are produced in-situ during the fiber drawing process, and the size, number and spatial arrangement can be controlled by controlling the various processing parameters. These fibers have been shown to guide light and have been investigated for various sensor applications [6][7][8][9][10]. The fibers have been demonstrated to be able to sense gases of various types through the interaction of the evanescent field of the optical signal propagating through the fiber with the gases present in the hole region.…”

“…A number of different processing methods have been used to fabricate these fibers, each with their own particular advantages. These processing methods have been published previously and so will not be repeated here [9][10][11].…”

Glass: The carrier of light—Part II—A brief look into the future of optical fiber

“…Amongst the early work in this regard was the use of "gas producing materials" 165 and, later, reactions such as the thermal-oxidation of silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 + 3O 2 → 3SiO 2 + 2N 2 ) to form random holes in an optical fiber. 166 For completeness, these holes occur in the preform and can then be elongated into random air-lines in the fiber during the draw. The inclusion of (random) nanoscale pores or air-lines in the fiber has very practical consequences.…”

Electronic and magnetic fibers

“…Inspired by this work, the first semiconductor material, silicon, was successfully incorporated into a random hole fiber by Pickrell, et al Subsequently, significant progress has been made in the fabrication and understanding of these types of fibers [14,15]. Researchers have fabricated basic devices, such as p À i À n junctions, germanium resistors, and optical switches in fibers [16][17][18][19][20].…”