Long period gratings in air-core photonic bandgap fibers

Long period fiber gratings in hollow-core air-silica photonic bandgap fibers were produced by use of high frequency, short duration, CO2 laser pulses to periodically modify the size, shape and distribution of air holes in the microstructured cladding. The resonant wavelength of these gratings is highly sensitivity to strain but insensitive to temperature, bend and external refractive index. These gratings can be used as stable spectral filters and novel sensors.