Co(2+)-doped flatband optical fiber attenuator.

The attenuation properties of Co(2+) -doped single-mode optical fibers were experimentally and analytically investigated for preparation of a stable flatband attenuator. By controlling the Co(2+) -doped region in a fiber core, we could prepare a flatband attenuator in which the attenuation in wavelengths 1530-1610 nm was held to within 9.9-10.2 dB (3% variation) and the fluctuation of attenuation was less than 0.1 dB with 1-W input power for 100 h.

Fabrication of long-period fiber gratings by focused irradiation of infrared femtosecond laser pulses.

We have fabricated long-period fiber gratings by use of a novel technique using focused irradiation of infrared femtosecond laser pulses. We investigate the thermal stability of the fabricated fiber gratings. The values of the loss peak wavelength and the transmittance of the fiber gratings after heat treatment below 500 degrees C are the same as initial values before heat treatment. The fiber gratings that were fabricated by this technique have a high resistance to thermal decay. We propose that this technique will be useful for fabrication of fiber gratings with a superior aging characteristic.