Low-loss semi-reflective in-fiber mirrors

This paper presents a method for the efficient production of all-fiber semi reflective mirrors suitable for fiber sensors and other all-fiber device applications. The mirrors are obtained by the short duration etching of a standard single mode fiber in hydrofluoric acid, followed by an on-line feedback-assisted fusion splicing process. Fiber mirror reflectance up to 9.5% with excess losses below 0.25 dB were produced in practice, which is in good agreement with provided theoretical and modeling analyses. Control over the etching time and fusion splicing process allows for balancing between reflectance and transmittance, while maintaining low excess loss of experimentally produced mirrors.