Incoherent scattering losses in optical fiber Bragg gratings

Scattered-light losses from UV-processed optical fibers and optical fiber Bragg gratings are investigated for wavelengths in the vicinity of the Bragg wavelength. Broadband incoherent scattering loss arising from nonuniform grating elements was measured ranging from 5 x 10(-5) to 0.2 dB/cm, depending on fiber type and (or) processing conditions. Asymmetry of the radially scattered-light profile is consistent with the grating elements' being localized to within a few micrometers of the core -cladding interface.