Dynamics of the formation of Bragg gratings in germanosilicate optical fibers

Abstract The dynamics of the formation of Bragg gratings in germanosilicate optical fibers is examined using a material rate equation coupled to spatio-temporally evolving counter-propagating light fields. Theories for the microscopic material changes which give rise to the index change are discussed and the differential equations describing the process are numerically integrated to yield solutions for the evolution of a dynamic grating and the counter-propagating electric fields. Results for the time dependent reflectivity are compared with previously reported experimental findings.