Tunable mechanically induced long-period fiber gratings

We report the experimental characterization of mechanically induced long-period fiber gratings (LPFG's) made by pressing a plate with periodic grooves against a short length of fiber. This filter. which is simple and inexpensive, exhibits transmission spectra and temperature stability similar to those of photoinduced LPFG's. It also offers the unique advantages of being tunable, erasable, and reconfigurable. Its polarization dependence also makes it useful as a polarizer, although it can also be eliminated with simple mechanical designs. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America.