Fiber Optic Grating Material Specifications and Prices

Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are available in various materials and coatings, with custom specifications across 400–2000 nm wavelengths, and typical fabrication costs starting around $1250 for small runs.

Material and Coating Options

Fiber Bragg gratings are fabricated by permanently modifying the refractive index of the fiber core using high-power laser irradiation. To ensure durability and environmental stability, FBGs are commonly coated with: Acrylate: Standard coating for general applications, providing moderate protection against mechanical stress and environmental factors. Polyimide: High-temperature resistant coating suitable for harsh environments and industrial sensing.

Al

Si (Aluminum-Silicon): Metal coating for extreme temperature and mechanical stability. The fiber itself is typically silica-based, with the refractive index periodically altered to reflect specific wavelengths while transmitting others. Types of Fiber Bragg GratingsFBGs come in several configurations tailored to specific applications: Uniform FBGs: Constant index modulation, used in standard wavelength filtering and sensing.

Apodized FB

Gs: Tapered modulation profile to suppress spectral side lobes, ideal for WDM systems.

Chirped FB

Gs: Varying grating period along the fiber length, used for dispersion compensation or pulse shaping.

Tilted FB

Gs (TFBGs): Grating planes tilted relative to the fiber axis, coupling light into cladding modes for refractive index sensing. Long-period gratings (LPGs): Periods in hundreds of micrometers, creating loss bands for filtering or sensing applications.

Specifications

Typical FB

G specifications include: Wavelength range: 400–2000 nm. Reflectivity: Up to 90%. Bandwidth: Around 0.

2–1 nm for narrowband applications. Fiber length: Commonly 1–1. 5 meters, depending on application.

Temperature and strain sensitivity: FBGs respond to environmental changes, making them suitable for sensing applications.

Pricing

Custom FB

G fabrication costs vary based on wavelength accuracy, linewidth, and quantity: Small custom runs: Approximately $1250 for three samples with ±0. 2 nm wavelength accuracy and ~1 nm linewidth. Quantity pricing: Available upon request from suppliers, often decreasing per unit for larger orders.

ApplicationsFBGs are widely used in: Fiber lasers: As cavity mirrors or wavelength stabilizers. Telecommunications: WDM channel add/drop, gain flattening, and dispersion compensation. Sensing: Monitoring strain, temperature, pressure, or refractive index in bridges, aircraft, and industrial environments.

In summary, fiber Bragg gratings offer versatile material options, precise wavelength control, and a range of coatings for environmental stability, with custom fabrication costs starting around $1250 for small batches and scalable pricing for larger quantities.