Novel configuration for lateral pressure tuning of a fiber Bragg grating without peak splitting

Lateral-pressure tuning of a coaxially embedded fiber Bragg grating in a cylindrical polymeric package is demonstrated. The polymeric coating, having very low stiffness and high Poisson's ratio, enables effective transfer of the applied radial load to the axial direction. Such a transfer enhances the tuning range and reduces birefringence. A tuning range more than 1 nm, with negligible bandpass broadening and peak splitting, could be demonstrated. A lateral pressure sensitivity of 0.3 nm/(N/mm), which is almost 7 times as high as that of bare FBG, could be obtained. (C) 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.