Rapid long-period grating formation in hydrogen-loaded fibre with 157 nm F2-laser radiation

Long-period gratings were fabricated in hydrogen-loaded telecommunication fibre using 157 nm F/sub 2/-laser radiation. A >20 dB attenuation peak at 1590 nm was induced with only 5.0 J/cm/sup 2/ accumulated fluence, a value >250-fold smaller in comparison with fluence requirements for 248 nm KrF-laser irradiation.