Photosensitivity of germanium-doped silica fibers, mask fabrication of fiber Bragg gratings, and their application as a strain sensor

This thesis addresses issues related to the formation and application of fiber Bragg gratings. A description of existing methods of grating formation is reviewed. Also, mechanisms for photo-induced refractive index changes in germanium doped silica fibers are examined. A new method of fiber Bragg grating formation is proposed and experimentally verified using diffraction masks. The near field diffraction theory of Fresnel images is described in relation to this new method. Bragg reflectors have been experimentally produced in germanium doped silica optical fibers through the use of a surface relief phase mask. By the addition of an optical system the period of the produced grating may be changed. The wavelength of a fiber Bragg grating has been experimentally tuned using wave front shaping optics. The application of fiber Bragg grating as a strain sensor is examined in the context of a civil engineering environment. The issues and advantages of fiber Bragg gratings as devices for distributed strain measurements in large scale concrete structures are experimentally evaluated.