Trans-4-stilbenemethanol-doped photosensitive polymer fibers and gratings

Abstract

We report the development of photosensitive polymeric optical fibers for gratings. The fiber cladding is made of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate, and its core is made of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, and benzyl methacrylate (90/4/6 molar ratio) doped with trans-4-stilbenemethanol. Ultraviolet absorption and photoinduced refractive-index change of the doped core system are presented, and its photosensitivity is demonstrated by fabrication of Bragg gratings in the core of the fiber by use of a pulse laser at 325 nm.