A general analytical expression for describing the growth of the resonant peak wavelengths of long period gratings is derived. The theoretical calculations explain the shift of peak loss wavelengths in the direction of either shorter or longer wavelengths as the induced index change of grating increases. We have calculated and experimentally verified the sensitivity of the resonant peak wavelengths with respect to an overlay index for various grating periods. It is shown that the center wavelength shift of the claddding modes depends strongly on the grating period and the claddding mode order.

This paper describes the implementation of a Bragg grating-based strain-monitoring system on the Viaduc des Vaux bridge during its construction in 1997 and 1998. The bridge was constructed in a cantilevered, push/pull incremental launching method, and data obtained from two tests were shown to reveal interesting features of the box-girder strain response during the push and pull phases, particularly with regard to limit loads and local buckling. When appropriate, data were compared to data obtained from conventional resistive strain gages and from simple analytical models.

A short review of distributed and multiplexed sensor technology, based on fibre gratings, is given. This is followed by details of more specific work in this area at the University of Southampton, particularly grating fabrication, distributed and multiplexed addressing and important practical aspects such as temperature and strain discrimination. The paper concludes with a short discussion of the problems that must be avoided in order to construct viable systems for engineering requirements.

Characteristics of an FBG hydrophone are described under various conditions. The developed FBG hydrophone detects an acoustic field in water with good performances: linear response,high sensitivity,high stability,wide dynamic range as large as 90 dB and wide operation frequency range from a few kHz to a few MHz. A WDM FBG hydrophone consisting of two FBGs in serial connection can detect simultaneously amplitudes and phases of acoustic fields at different points,which in turn allows a directive measurement of an acoustic field in water.

This paper reviews the use of fiber optic sensors for downhole monitoring in the oil and gas industry. Due to their multiplexing capabilities and versatility, the use of Bragg grating sensors appears to be particularly suited for this application. Several types of transducer have been developed, each of which can be addressed along a single (common) optical fiber in the well and read-out using a common surface instrumentation system.

An optical add-drop multiplexer with a grating-loaded directional coupler in silica waveguides is demonstrated. The device for this configuration has a large fabrication tolerance and is small in size. A new scheme, in which the coupling length of the directional coupler is twice the complete coupling length, enables low cross-talk for both add and drop operations. This device is polarization-independent due to its relatively low-temperature process.

An optical add-drop multiplexer with a grating-loaded directional coupler in silica waveguides is demonstrated. The device for this configuration has a large fabrication tolerance and is small in size. A new scheme, in which the coupling length of the directional coupler is twice the complete coupling length, enables low cross-talk for both add and drop operations. This device is polarization-independent due to its relatively low-temperature process.

A fiber Bragg grating, which has periodical perturbation of the refractive index in the fiber core, acts as a wavelength selective reflection filter and steep optical spectrum can be realized by forming more than ten thousand of gratings along the fiber core. Owing to capability of making steep optical spectrum, fiber Bragg gratings has been expected to be introduced practical use as multiplexing or demultiplexing filters in dense WDM transmission systems. On the other hand, radiation mode loss, reflection side mode and temperature dependence of Bragg wavelength, should be improved to put the fiber Bragg grating to practical use in dense WDM transmission systems. In this paper, an optimum design and performance of the fiber Bragg grating for dense WDM systems are described. The photosensitive cladding fiber realized less than 0. 2 dB insertion loss at transmitted signal channels and less than 0. 1 dB splicing loss with standard single-mode fibers. An adequate apodization technique in the refractive index distribution suppressed reflection side modes. A temperature compensating package, which gives longitudinal strain with negative temperature dependence to a fiber Bragg grating, minimized temperature dependence of Bragg wavelength less than 0. 001 nm/. Thermal decay of Bragg grating was also investigated and adequate annealing condition was estimated to obtain sufficient stability for practical use in dense WDM transmission.