DR. MOHAMAD HALIM BIN ABD.

WAHID

INVESTIGATION OF BRAGG GRATING REPORT

KHAIRUL RIDZUAN B. ABD. MALEK

131180682

LOURINE ANAK MANO

131180864

TRUE ONG

131182754

WAN ALYA AMALINA BT. WAN ALI

131182785

NOR FARIHANA BT. MUHAMAD BADRI 131181698

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NO. CONTENTS

PAGE

Abstract (English)

Abstrak (Malay)

Chapter One : Introduction / Theory

Chapter Two: Methodolody

Chapter Three : Results

Chapter Four : Discussion

13

Chapter Five: Conclusion

14

References

15

Appendix

16-17

4-7

8
9-12

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ABSTRACT
From this project, we intend to know about a fiber Bragg grating (FBG). FBG is a
type of distributed Bragg reflector constructed in a short segment of optical fiber that reflects
particular wavelengths of light and transmits all others. We used OptiFDTD software to
create grating layout and simulation of Bragg grating. This software provides comprehensive
post-simulation analysis tools, such as transmittance spectrum analysis, mode overlap
calculation, input overlap calculation, far field calculation, pointing vector analysis, polarized
power calculation and so on. These analysis tools were mainly used in the analyzer. Some
users may want to perform the sweep simulation and want feedback the results to the layout
designer so that the layout can be optimized, or some users may want to get the power
transmission/reflection spectrum results without the manipulation of opening the analyzer.
We can know the Bragg properties by changing the wavelength and the tilted angle of the
incident wave.
From this project, we hope to know and learn to use OptiFDTD software to create a
simulation of gratings created with VB Script. We also learn how to generate the grating
layout using VB scripting and to simulate the grating layout and post-processing analysis.

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ABSTRAK
Penghasilan projek ini adalah untuk mempelajari tentang jeriji fiber Bragg (FBG)
dengan lebih terpeinci. FBG ialah sejenis pemantul agihan Bragg yang dicipta di dalam
segmen pendek fiber optik bertujuan untuk memantulkan saiz gelombang cahaya tertentu
dan membiarkan gelombang cahaya yang selebihnya untuk tembus. Kami menggunakan
perisian OptiFDTD untuk mencipta bentangan jeriji dan mensimulasi jeriji Bragg. Perisian ini
menyediakan alat analisis terpeinci selepas simulasi, seperti analisis spektrum pemindahan,
mod pengiraan pertindihan, pengiraan pertindihan input, pengiraan bidang ini, menunjuk
analisis vektor, pengiraan kuasa polarisasi dan sebagainya. Alat-alat analisis telah digunakan
terutamanya dalam

penganalisis.

Sesetengah pengguna mungkin

mahu

untuk

melaksanakan simulasi sapu dan mahu maklum balas keputusan kepada pereka susun atur
supaya susun atur yang boleh dioptimumkan, atau sesetengah pengguna mungkin mahu
mendapatkan keputusan penghantaran kuasa / spektrum renungan tanpa manipulasi membuka
penganalisis. Kita dapat mengetahui sifat-sifat Bragg dengan mengubah panjang gelombang
dan menukar sudut condong gelombang kejadian itu.
Daripada projek ini, kami berharap dapat tahu dan belajar bagaimana untuk
menggunakan perisian OptiFDTD untuk membuat simulasi jeriji dicipta dengan VB Script.
Kami juga belajar bagaimana untuk menjana bentangan jeriji menggunakan VB skrip dan
untuk mensimulasikan bentangan jeriji dan analisis selepas pemprosesan.

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INTRODUCTION
An optical Bragg grating is a transparent device with a periodic variation of the
refractive index, so that a large reflectivity may be reached in some wavelength range. Before
entering the theory of fiber Bragg grating, it needs to review the Bragg's law. Bragg
diffraction occurs for an electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is the same order of
magnitude of the atomic spacing, when incident upon a crystalline material. In this case the
radiation is scattered in a specular fashion by the atoms of the material and experiences
constructive interference in accordance to Bragg's law. For a crystalline solid with lattice
planes separated by a distance d, the waves are scattered and interfere constructively if the
path length of each wave is equal to an integer multiple of the wavelength. Bragg's law
describes the condition for constructive interference from several crystallographic planes of
the crystalline lattice separated by a distance d:
2d sin = n

(1)

where is the incident angle, n is an integer and is the wavelength. A diffraction pattern is
obtained by measuring the intensity of the scattered radiation as a function of the angle .
Whenever the scattered waves satisfy the Bragg condition it is observed a strong intensity in
the diffraction pattern, known as Bragg peak. Nowadays, the majority of Bragg gratings
produced are based in optical fiber and often referred to as fibre Bragg grating (FBG). Other
applications of Bragg grating are X-ray diffractometer (XRD), laser resonator,
photorefractive grating and laser diodes such as distributed feedback lasers (DFB lasers) or
distributed Bragg reflector lasers (DBR lasers).
Fibre Bragg grating represents an important element in the emerging fields of optical
communications and optical sensing. It is widely used in optical sensing because their
resonant (reflected) wavelength is highly sensitive to environmental parameters such as
temperature and strain. Despite its vast usefulness, the device is comparatively simple. The
fiber Bragg grating is a periodic variation of the refractive index along the propagation
direction in the fiber core. It can be manufactured by exposing the optical fiber core to
intense short wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiation along the length of grating. This induces
the refractive index change along the core of the fiber. Typically a dielectric cylinder of index
n1, usually referred as core, is surrounded by a concentric dielectric cylinder of index n2,
which is referred to cladding area. The two refractive indices obey the relation n1 > n2. If
medium 1 index is larger than medium 2 indexes, and the incident angle is large enough, then
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total internal reection occurs. In such an arrangement, since the field decays exponentially
inside region of index n2, practically no field exists outside of region n2. This is the basis for
how an optical waveguide works. In its simplest form a fiber Bragg grating consists of a
periodic modulation of the refractive index in a core of a single mode optical fibre, where the
phase fronts are perpendicular to the fibres longitudinal axis and with grating planes having
a constant period. Because of its intrinsic simple physical nature, the theory behind Bragg
grating is equally simple. Light, guided along the core of an optical fiber, is scattered by each
grating plane. If the Bragg condition is satisfied, the contributions of reflected light from each
grating plane add constructively in the backward direction to form a back reflected peak with
center wavelength defined by the grating period. A considerable amount of theoretical work
has been reported with various approaches giving reasonable results in predicting the
reflectivity as a function of wavelength.

Figure 1: The spectral response of a FBG

The figure above shows how the light is being reflected and transmitted by a FBG.
When an incident light with many wavelengths is launched into a FBG, at a particular
wavelength, all reflected signals are in phase with the grating period and add constructively
and a back reflected signal centred about the Bragg wavelength is observed. Reflected
contributions from light at others wavelength does not add constructively and cancelled out.
As a result, these wavelengths are transmitted through the grating since they are not in phase
with the grating period. Moreover, this structure selectively reflects a very narrow range of
wavelengths while transmitting others. Only those wavelengths that satisfy the Bragg
condition are affected and strongly reflected. The reflectivity of the input signal reaches a
peak at the Bragg wavelength. The explanation is that at the end of the fibre about 4% of the
light was reflected by Fresnel reflection which, in its way backwards, interfered with the
ongoing light producing an interference pattern. This pattern contained peaks and valleys of a
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stationary wave which imprinted permanently the pattern into the core of the fibre as an index
of refraction modulation. Initially, the reected light intensity is low, but after some time, it
grows in intensity until almost all the light launched into the bre is back-reected. The
growth in back-reected light was explained in terms of a new effect called
photosensitivity, whereby the index of refraction in the core of the fibre is increased by
exposure to intense laser radiation. Photosensitivity caused such gratings usefulness to be
limited because they could only be reflected at wavelengths close to the writing light. They
also took a long time to produce and the strength of the gratings varied along the length of the
fibre.
After the inscription of the grating into the fibers core, due to the periodic
modulation of the index of refraction, light guided along the core of the fibre will be weakly
reflected by each grating plane by Fresnel effect. The reflected light from each grating plane
will join together with the other reflections in the backward direction. This addition may be
constructive or destructive, depending whether the wavelength of the incoming light meets
the Bragg condition.
Bragg's law states the following condition:
B = 2neff

(2)

where B is called the Bragg wavelength, neff is the effective refractive index and is the
grating period of the index perturbation. The Bragg wavelength (B) of an FBG can thus be
altered by changing the parameters neff and . The Bragg wavelength is also aected by
additional factors such as the grating length. The diagram below shows a typical Bragg
reflection peak.

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Figure 2: A typical reflectivity vs wavelength curve

In this mini project, we are going to use photonic simulation software which is called
OptiFDTD (Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulator) to generate the grating layout and
also shows the power transmittance and reflection using VB script. In addition, we need to
improve or enhance 10 sets of value that shows significant difference between them.

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METHODOLOGY
The tasks given for our group was Lesson 15 and Lesson 16. For both lessons we
completed by using Optiwave Software. The objectives that were needed to achieved from
Lesson 15 are to use VB scripting to generate the grating (or periodic) layout and to produce
grating layout simulation and post-processing analysis. To achieve the objective, these steps
have to be followed. First, open the Waveguide Layout Designer. Next, create a new
project.

Create

dielectric

material

with

refractive

index,

n=1.5

with

name

ChannelPro_n=1.5, and ChannelPro_n=3.14. Then, also create a profile with material

ChannelPro_n=1.5and ChannelPro_n=3.14. In the OPtiFDTD_Designer window, draw two
linear waveguides. Then, define an horizontal input plane. Overwrite the current script. Next,
delete all the objects in the layout window. Run the VB script code. VB scripting provides a
way to generate the periodic layout. VB script can also design other objects that can be drawn
in the layout such as input plane, Observation Objects. After setting up the simulation
parameters, perform the simulation. Last but not least, perform far field analysis for the
diffraction wave.
As for Lesson 16 Calculating Power Transmittance and Reflection using VB Script,
the purposes of the lesson are to calculate power at the specified Wavelength. This function
should be used with 2D GMCW simulations. It can be used with 2D CW simulations as well.
However, in this case it makes sense only when nonlinear materials have been used to
construct project components, and one can expect some harmonic frequencies to be
generated, calculates power spectrum for the specified number of wavelength sampling
points. This function can be used only with 2D GMCW simulations. When used with other
type of simulations, the function will return zero as the power value, to retrieve a value of
previously calculated power at the specified sampling point. The function will return zero if
called before the CalcPowerSpectrum() has been executed, to calculates power spectrum
normalized to the power signal of the specified Input Plane, for the specified number of
wavelength sampling points. This function can be used only with 2D GMCW simulations.
When used with other type of simulations, the function will return zero as the power value
and to retrieve a value of previously calculated power at the specified sampling point. The
function will return zero if called before the CalcNormalizedPowerSpectrum() has been
executed.

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RESULTS (LESSON 15)

Table 1: Diffraction wave for different wavelength and tilted angle

Wavelength (um)
0.2

Tilted angle
(deg)
45

0.63 (original)

45

1.5

45

0.63

0.63

80

0.63

160

Diffraction angle (deg)

Diffraction angle intensity

-45.25
-25.25
-8.75
7.50
24.25
-36.25
-18.5
-2
31.5
-7.5
8.5
-34
-16.25
0
16.25
34
-25.5
-8.75
23.75
-7.25
8.5
25.5

2446.73
369.11
875.20
271.72
520.69
11542.67
10905.68
11860.41
1318.60
23888.52
2685.04
3463.59
15584.61
19450.33
15589.37
3463.53
1387.17
1298.90
178.54
18861.11
10516.46
24723.27

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Wavelength=0.2um, Angle=45 o

Wavelength=0.63um, Angle=45 o

Wavelength=1.5um, Angle=45 o

Wavelength=0.63um, Angle=0 o

Wavelength=0.63um, Angle=80 o

Wavelength=0.63um,Angle=160o

Figure 1.1: Far Field Pattern

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RESULTS (LESSON 16)

Table 2: Power reflectance and transmittance for different number of grating

Number of
grating

Refractive
index (n)

1
20
36 (original)
51
100

3.14
3.14
3.14
3.14
3.14

Bragg wavelength Power Reflectance at

(um)
Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
1.490
-1.02e-10
1.490
-3.02e-9
1.490
-8.43e-9
1.490
-1.12e-8
1.490
-1.12e-8

Power Transmittance
at Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
2.74e-8
2.44e-8
2.06e-8
1.87e-8
1.87e-8

Figure 2.1 Reflection spectrums for different number of grating

Figure 2.2 Transmission spectrums for different number of grating

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Table 3: Bragg wavelength, power reflectance and transmittance for different refractive index
Number of
grating

Refractive
index (n)

36
36
36
36
36
36

1.50
3.14
3.20
3.30
3.80
5.90

Bragg wavelength Power Reflectance at

(um)
Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
1.414
-1.66e-9
1.490
-8.43e-9
1.519
-8.97e-9
1.566
-9.37e-9
1.573
-5.96e-9
1.550
-1.92e-9

Power Transmittance
at Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
1.01e-7
2.06e-8
2.11e-8
2.05e-8
1.83e-8
5.80e-11

Table 4: Bragg wavelength, power reflectance and transmittance for different wafer
properties
Wafer refractive
index (n)

Bragg wavelength
(um)

1.0 (Air)
2.0
3.14

1.490
1.511
-

Power Reflectance at
Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
-8.43e-9
-5.93e-9
-

Power Transmittance
at Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
2.06e-8
2.66e-8
-

Table 5: Bragg wavelength, power reflectance and transmittance for different wafer
dimension
Length (um)

Width (um)

Bragg wavelength
(um)

13
13
13
13
20

3
6
13
16
3

1.490
1.504
1.490
1.504
1.490

Power Reflectance Power

at Bragg
Transmittance at
wavelength (W/m) Bragg wavelength
(W/m)
-8.43e-9
2.06e-8
-8.40e-9
2.16e-8
-8.47e-9
2.07e-8
-8.42e-9
2.17e-8
-8.43e-9
2.06e-8

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DISCUSSION
Based on the results in Table 1, the diffraction angle and intensity varied as we
changed the wavelength and tilted angle of the incident wave. The diffraction angle intensity
is significantly increased with the increasing of wavelength. The incident wave was diffracted
and interfere constructively which formed the peak of intensity that showed in figure 1.1.
Constructive interference occurs when the path difference is an integral number of
wavelengths. The peaks can be the order of diffraction angles. We observed every peak
formed at certain angles means that the incident wave is diffracted at these angles. Therefore,
the diffraction is depends on the wavelength.
In Table 2, when we fixed the refractive index and varied the number of grating, the
results showed that the reflected power increases. The negative sign for power denotes
reflection. The number of grating increases means that the length of grating has been
increases also. The number of grating affected the reflected power because the incident light
is reflected at each planes of grating. So the entire reflected light waves are combined into
one large reflection at a particular wavelength. The wavelength at which this reflection occurs
is called the Bragg wavelength. Due to the original refractive index of material which is
n=3.14, the reflected wavelength is at 1.49um. In addition, when the reflected power
increases, the transmitted power decreases. This is because a light wave travelled in the fiber
will be reflected or transmitted through the planes of grating. Based on the figure 2.1, it is
significantly increase in the reflectivity of side lobes. The bandwidth also becomes narrower
when the grating length increases. Theoretically the reflected power will increase until it
achieves the maximum value when the length of grating increases, but when we modified the
structure over 51 gratings, the result did not show any changes of this parameter. So, we
conjecture that this software has it limitation.
Besides that, the results showed the Bragg wavelength changed when the refractive
index changed without changing the number of grating in Table 3. Based on the result, the
Bragg wavelength is shifted towards longer wavelength when the refractive index increases.
The reflected power also increased when the refractive index increased until n=3.30 but the
power dropped when further increased the index. According to the Bragg condition of
Equation (2), refractive index can affect the Bragg wavelength. The light waves are reflected
by each of the grating plane due to the periodic variation of index of refraction. Thus,
different refractive index will select different wavelengths.
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CONCLUSION
Finally, our investigation about Bragg grating comes to the end .We had spent our
time to make sure we achieved the objectives for this investigation. Through our research,
starting from the first day we got the task until today, all of our objectives have been able to
accomplish nicely.
In this, many things that related to Bragg grating was dismantled one by one. Based
on our first objective, we may learn and get extra knowledge about what it is mean by Bragg
grating. During this period, we already know the basic things that relate to this topic. As
contained in the introduction, we can define the Bragg grating based on the Braggs Law.
Besides that we also can determine the basic structure of the Bragg grating and also different
type of grating that had been apply in many optical instruments.
From the research, we also know about the application of the Bragg grating in
nowadays technologies. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) is the most famous optical fiber that
applies the Bragg grating theory. Based on the information we obtained from some reference,
FBG also can be divided into several types based on the grating structure: uniform FBG,
chirped FBG, tilted FBG and superstructure.
Our next objective is to generate the grating (or periodic) layout using VB scripting
and to simulate the grating layout and post-processing analysis. By following the step in
Lesson 15 and Lesson 16, it make our knowledge about Bragg grating become clear. We
understand the theory and the differences in transmittance and reflection when we change
some parameter, (result and discussion). From the lesson 15, we use the VB scripting to
generate the periodic layout and also design some other objects that can be draw in the
layout. For example, in our layout we draw the input plane and two observation planes
(transmission and reflection). And then the far field analysis for the diffraction wave can be
performed. To accomplish our last objective, we follow Lesson 16. We succeed in simulate
the grating layout. As a conclusion, our objectives had been successfully accomplished within
the given time.

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REFERENCES
1) Marcelo M. Werneck, Regina C. S. B. Allil, Bessie A. Ribeiro and Fbio V. B. de Nazar
(2013), "A Guide to Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors", in Current Trends in Short-and LongPeriod Fiber Gratings, DOI: 10.5772/54682.
2) Hill, K & Meltz, G 1997, 'Fiber Bragg Grating Technology Fundamentals and Overview',
Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 1263-76.

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APPENDIX

Lesson 15 - Simulations of Gratings Created

with VB Script
Grating layouts in most cases are the periodic structure. There are two ways in OptiFDTD to
realized the periodic layout: PBG editor and VB scripting, PBG layout and corresponding
simulations are discussed in Lesson 3, Lesson 11 - 14. This lesson will focus the following
features:
Using VB scripting to generate the grating (or periodic) layout.
Grating layout simulation and post-processing analysis
Note: It is assumed that you are familiar with Lesson 1Getting started and with material
and profile definition.

Introduce the layout

We are going to simulate a 2D grating layout that is shown in the Figure 1.

Figure 1 Layout

Note: Note: The corresponding project file can also be found in the Sample file
folder, Sample37_2D_VB_Script_Grating.FDT

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Lesson 16 Calculating Power Transmittance

and Reflection using VB Script
OptiFDTD provides comprehensive post-simulation analysis tools. Such as transmittance
spectrum analysis, mode overlap calculation, input overlap calculation, far field calculation,
Poynting vector analysis, polarized power calculation and so on. These analysis tools were
mainly used in the analyzer. Some users may want to perform the sweep simulation and want
feedback the results to the layout designer so that the layout can be optimized, or some users
may want to get the power transmission/reflection spectrum results without the manipulation
of opening the analyzer. Now these works are possible by using the VB script for the 2D
layout.
Access to the simulation result data of Observation Objects is a critical feature needed for
optimization of the designed devices. Exposure of the available data through the VB Script
interface allows for implementation of the basic optimization algorithms within the script and
provides the means to access third party solutions supporting COM Automation
OptiFDTD provides the following VB script function based the Observation Line Power
post-simulation analysis.

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