FIBER BRAGG GRATINGS WITH VARIOUS CHIRP PROFILES MADE IN ETCHED TAPERS

We have studied, both theoretically and experimentally, fiber Bragg gr atings with a number of different chirp profiles. These chirp profiles can easily be achieved by a recently demonstrated technique involving a taper of desired profile etched into the cladding of a fiber. The p erformances of gratings with linear, quadratic, periodically modulated , and step-chirp profiles are analyzed numerically. The versatility of the technique was demonstrated when linearly and quadratically chirpe d gratings were made as examples of continuous chirp, and gratings wit h step chirps were made as examples of discontinuously chirped structu res. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America