Characterization of single-mode optical fiber filters

The fabrication of narrowband highly reflecting filters in single-mode step-index fibers was reported recently by Hill et al. [Appl. Phys. Lett. 32, 647 (1978)]. The underlying effect on which these filters are based is a photoinduced refractive-index change in the GeO(2) used as a core dopant in SiO(2) fibers. A study is reported aimed at the characterization of such optical fiber filters. A theoretical model is developed, and relevant fiber parameters are determined through intercomparison with experiment. In this way, both the magnitude of the photoinduced index change and its dependence on the writing power coupled into the fiber are determined.