Optimization of a continuous phase-only sampling for high channel-count fiber Bragg gratings

A novel continuous phase-only sampling function capable of producing up to 81-channel FBG with excellent channel uniformity and high in-band energy efficiency is presented and optimized by using the simulated annealing algorithm. In order to fabricate this kind of FBGs with a conventional side-writing phase-mask technique, both the diffraction effects and fabrication tolerance of the phase-shifted phase mask have also been addressed. Compared with the numerical results, a 45-channel (spacing of 100 GHz) and an 81-channel (spacing of 50 GHz) phase-only sampled linearly chirped FBG are successfully demonstrated. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.