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UV Inscription and Pressure Induced Long-Period Gratings through 3D Printed Amplitude Masks
Ricardo Oliveira1, Liliana M Sousa1, Ana M Rocha1
1Instituto de Telecomunicações, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 3, 2021
Summary
This study introduces 3D printed amplitude masks for creating long-period gratings (LPGs) via UV radiation or mechanical pressing. This low-cost method offers high-quality gratings with tunable wavelengths and complex structures.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and optical engineering.
- Materials science and additive manufacturing.
Background:
- Long-period gratings (LPGs) are crucial optical components.
- Fabricating LPGs often requires expensive equipment and specialized masks.
- A need exists for accessible and cost-effective LPG fabrication methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the use of 3D printed amplitude masks for LPG inscription.
- To showcase the versatility of this method using UV radiation and mechanical pressing.
- To highlight the cost-effectiveness and accessibility of 3D printing for optical mask fabrication.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of amplitude masks using a consumer-grade 3D printer.
- Inscription of LPGs using UV radiation with the 3D printed masks.
- Induction of LPGs using mechanical pressing with the 3D printed masks.
Main Results:
- Successfully inscribed high-quality LPGs with sharp resonances (< 3 nm bandwidth) and low losses.
- Demonstrated tunability of resonance wavelengths by varying mask periods.
- Achieved improved grating quality (lower out-of-band loss, reduced ripples) with 3D printed masks compared to existing methods.
Conclusions:
- 3D printed amplitude masks provide a low-cost, accessible solution for LPG fabrication.
- The method enables the creation of customized and complex grating structures.
- This technique overcomes limitations of traditional mask availability and fabrication equipment.
