High Performance In-fiber Power and Wavelength Monitors

Performance monitoring is one of the key features tocreate self-managed optical networks. Monitoring thecharacteristics of an optical channel is importantfor designing robust and reliable opticaltelecommunication system. This book examines the useof highly integrated (< 500 microns) and low loss (< 1 dB) in-fiber taps for monitoring the power and thewavelength of an optical signal that propagates inthe core of an optical fiber.The dispersive scattered light from single ofmultiple tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBG) may bemeasured and serve as a monitoring signal. Novelpower and wavelength monitors have been designed andrealized by exploiting this key characteristic. The power monitor can measure the power of a singlewavelength signal over a bandwidth that can beadapted by the grating tilt angle. The wavelengthmonitor provides both a high wavelength selectivity(sub-picometer level) and a large operating wavelength window (> C-band). The impact of an undesirable variation of thepolarization state of the incident light on thedevice performances has been analyzed as well as waysfor compensating it.