FIBEROPTICS
Fiber Bragg gratings from 3M Specialty Optical Fibers (West Haven, CT) provide wavelength-dependent functions--such as fixing, selecting, and maintaining wavelength--in important lightwave applications such as advanced communications experiments, erbium-doped amplifiers, and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) trials. Originally developed at United Technologies Research Center (East Hartford, CT), the process was licensed by 3M to produce gratings noninvasively in commercially available fibers. The commercial introduction at CLEO `95 will, according to 3M, enable industry to easily incorporate this technology into current and future applications while using conventional interconnect components and techniques. In fiber Bragg gratings, all transmitted wavelengths (except those that meet the Bragg condition) pass through with minimal insertion loss or change in signal. The Bragg signal is strongly reflected, and fiber Bragg gratings can replace bulk optical components with the added benefit of packaging flexibility.