Tunable phase-shifted FBG based on an in-grating bubble

Abstract

We present a new type of phase-shifted FBGs based on an in-grating bubble fabricated by femtosecond laser ablation together with fusion splicing technique. A micro-channel vertically crossing the bubble is drilled by femtosecond laser to allow liquid to flow in or out. By filling different refractive index liquid into the bubble, the phase-shift peak is found to experience a linear red shift with the increase of refractive index. Such a PS-FBG could be used to develop a promising tunable optical filter and sensor.