Fiber optic devices having volume Bragg grating elements

Abstract

Fiber optic devices including volume Bragg grating (VBG) elements are disclosed. A fiber optic device may include one or more optical inputs, one or more VBG elements, and one or more optical receivers. Methods for manufacturing VBG elements and for controlling filter response are also disclosed. A VBG chip, and fiber optic devices using such a chip, are also provided. A VBG chip includes a monolithic glass structure onto which a plurality of VBGs have been recorded.

1 . A fiber optic device, comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having wavelength in a fiber optic range;    a transmissive volume Bragg grating (VBG) element that redirects the input radiation; and    an optical output that receives the redirected radiation.    
   
   
       2 . The fiber optic device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second optical output that receives transmitted radiation transmitted through the VBG element, the transmitted radiation having a second wavelength in the fiber optic range.    
   
   
       3 . The fiber optic device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second transmissive VBG element that redirects transmitted radiation transmitted through the VBG element, the transmitted radiation having a second wavelength in the fiber optic range; and    a second optical output that receives the redirected transmitted radiation.    
   
   
       4 . The fiber optic device of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a third optical output that receives second transmitted radiation transmitted through the second VBG element, the second transmitted radiation having a third wavelength in the fiber optic range.    
   
   
       5 . The fiber optic device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second optical input that provides second input radiation having a second wavelength in the fiber optic range,    wherein the optical output receives the second input radiation.    
   
   
       6 . The fiber optic device of  claim 5 , wherein the VBG redirects the second input radiation toward the optical output.  
   
   
       7 . The fiber optic device of  claim 5 , wherein the second optical input provides third input radiation having a third wavelength, and the VBG element redirects the third input radiation to a second optical output.  
   
   
       8 . The fiber optic device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical input comprises an optical fiber.  
   
   
       9 . A fiber optic device, comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range;    a volume Bragg grating (VBG) element made of sensitized silica glass that receives the input radiation and redirects first redirected radiation having a first wavelength in the fiber optic range; and    an optical output that receives the first redirected radiation.    
   
   
       10 . A fiber optic device comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range;    a first volume Bragg grating (VBG) element that receives the input radiation and redirects first redirected radiation having a first wavelength in the fiber optic range;    a second VBG element that receives first transmitted radiation from the first VBG element and redirects second redirected radiation having a second wavelength in the fiber optic range;    a first optical output that receives the first redirected radiation; and    a second optical output that receives the second redirected radiation.    
   
   
       11 . The fiber optic device of  claim 10 , wherein the VBG elements are disposed along an optical axis of the fiber optic device.  
   
   
       12 . The fiber optic device of  claim 10 , wherein a face of the first VBG element is laminated to a face of the second VBG element.  
   
   
       13 . A fiber optic device comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range;    a volume Bragg grating (VBG) element that receives the input radiation and redirects first redirected radiation having a first wavelength in the fiber optic range;    a reflector that reflects first transmitted radiation received from the VBG back into the VBG such that the VBG redirects second redirected radiation having a second wavelength in the fiber optic range;    a first optical output that receives the first redirected radiation; and    a second optical output that receives the second redirected radiation.    
   
   
       14 . A fiber optic device comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range;    a monolithic glass structure onto which a plurality of volume Bragg gratings (VBGs) have been recorded, at least one of the VBGs being adapted to redirect first redirected light having a first wavelength in the fiber optic range; and    an optical output that receives the redirected radiation.    
   
   
       15 . A fiber optic device comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range;    a volume Bragg grating (VBG) element that receives the input radiation; and    a reflector that reflects radiation received from the VBG back into the VBG such that the VBG redirects redirected radiation having a wavelength in the fiber optic range.    
   
   
       16 . A fiber optic device comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range; and    a volume Bragg grating (VBG) element made of sensitized silica that receives the input radiation and redirects first redirected radiation having a wavelength in the fiber optic range.    
   
   
       17 . A fiber optic device comprising: 
 an optical input that provides input radiation having a plurality of wavelengths in a fiber optic range; and    a transmissive volume Bragg grating (VBG) element that receives the input radiation and redirects first redirected radiation having a wavelength in the fiber optic range.    
   
   
       18 . A volume Bragg grating (VBG) element for a fiber optic device, the VBG element comprising a sensitized silica glass onto which a grating wave vector has been recorded such that the VBG element is capable of redirecting radiation having a wavelength in the fiber optic range.