Influence of Scattering on Transmission Through Long-Period Fiber Gratings and Tunable, Microstructure Fibers

Controlled optical scattering within or around an optical fiber provides a potentially useful means for adjusting its transmission characteristics. This approach can complement conventional methods based on establishing well defined variations in the index of refraction of the core or the cladding of the fiber. This paper describes the use of a highly scattering sub-monolayer of nanoparticles deposited onto the fiber surface for adjusting the resonance wavelength, depth and width of an in-fiber long period grating fiber. It also introduces a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material that has a thermally-tunable scattering cross section and can be introduced into the channels of a microstructure optical fiber; this system may provide the means for a fiber-based scattering switch.