Reversible changes in the reflectivity of different types of fibre Bragg gratings

We have studied strain- and temperature-induced reversible changes in the reflectivity of different types of fibre Bragg gratings. The results demonstrate that the strain sensitivity of the reflectivity of type I and IIa Bragg gratings is mainly due to the photoinduced reduction in the elasto-optic coefficient p{sub 12} of the core glass and that its temperature sensitivity results from the increase in the thermo-optic coefficient of the glass. UV exposure of fibres loaded with molecular hydrogen has an insignificant effect on these material coefficients. We also analyse the effects of UV fluence and germanium concentration in the fibre core on the reversible changes in the reflectivity of the grating. (optical fibres)