. Splice-compatible with other PM fibres used in telecommunications
. Excellent availability
. Cost-effective

. Survives composite embedding temperatures
. Maintains composite material strength when embedded
. Survives sterilisation temperatures

. Rapid formation of high reflectivity FBGs
. Without hydrogenation

Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) have quickly established themselves as one of the key enabling technologies behind the 'DWDM Revolution'. EDFA gain-equalising filters, WDMs and add-drop multiplexers, created as periodic variations in the refractive index of the core of the fiber itself, have all played their part in delivering almost unlimited bandwidth and in acceleration the transition of the entire telecommunincation industry from a digital electronic to a digital photonic world.

FBGs can also be used in the fabrication of optical strain and temperature sensors, with quasi-distributed measurements possible using gratings written sequentially into a continuous length of fiber.

In the past, fibers have been 'photosensitised' either by increasing their germania content or by hydrogenation - neither technique is ideal. The small cores of high germania fibers make them incompatible with standard communications fibers and the process of hydrogenation not only adds complexity and cost but also tends to produce high loss gratings after irradiation. PS1250/1500 is different. The boron-doped core is intrinsically photosensitive allowing gratings to be written without hydro-genation.