Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance

Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica; Ando Nirina Andriamanalina

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

Methodology Article |

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Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance

Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica^*

, Ando Nirina Andriamanalina

Published in American Journal of Optics and Photonics (Volume 14, Issue 1)

Received: 15 December 2025 Accepted: 25 December 2025 Published: 19 January 2026

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Abstract

Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are regularly spaced patterns written into the core of optical fibers, which reflect certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass. They are widely used in telecommunications, sensing, and photonics. The most common method to create FBGs is the phase mask technique, a reliable and repeatable approach where an ultraviolet (UV) laser is passed through a carefully designed mask, producing an interference pattern that permanently changes the fiber core’s refractive index. The phase mask is a transparent silica plate with etched grooves that diffract the UV light predominantly into the ±1 orders, while suppressing the zeroth order to low levels (typically < 5%), resulting in an interference pattern with a period half that of the mask grating pitch. The spectral performance of an FBG such as its Bragg wavelength, bandwidth, reflectivity, sidelobe suppression, and spectral shape is directly influenced by the physical design parameters of the phase mask. The grating period of the phase mask determines the Bragg wavelength according to the Bragg condition, while the groove depth and duty cycle affect the diffraction efficiency and interference contrast necessary to produce a strong and uniform index modulation. Variations in these parameters can lead to shifts in spectral response or decreased performance, highlighting the importance of precise mask fabrication. This study examines the relationship between phase mask design and FBG optical characteristics by integrating coupled?mode theory and numerical modeling to quantify how mask geometry and fabrication tolerances influence the resulting grating performance. Understanding this relationship enables optimization of phase mask specifications for enhanced grating reflectivity, tailored bandwidth, and reduced sidelobes, which are essential for high?speed optical communication systems and advanced sensor designs. The insights from this work contribute to improved phase mask design strategies, bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and practical implementation of better FBGs.

Published in	American Journal of Optics and Photonics (Volume 14, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
Page(s)	1-8
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), Phase Mask, Optical Fiber, Diffraction Efficiency, Bragg Wavelength

References

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[2]	K. O. Hill and G. Meltz, “Fiber Bragg grating technology fundamentals and overview,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 1263–1276, 1997. https://doi.org/10.1109/50.618320 Scilit
[3]	A. Othonos and K. Kalli, Fiber Bragg Gratings: Fundamentals and Applications in Telecommunications and Sensing, Artech House, 1999.
[4]	J. Canning, “The technology of fiber Bragg gratings,” Reports on Progress in Physics, vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 233–276, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1088/0034?4885/69/2/R04
[5]	G. Meltz, W. W. Morey, and W. H. Glenn, “Formation of Bragg gratings in optical fibers by a transverse holographic method,” Optics Letters, vol. 14, no. 15, pp. 823–825, 1989. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.14.000823 Optica Publishing Group.
[6]	A. Yariv, Optical Electronics in Modern Communications, 5th ed., Oxford University Press, 1997.
[7]	H. Kogelnik, “Coupled wave theory for thick hologram gratings,” Bell System Technical Journal, vol. 48, no. 9, pp. 2909–2947, 1969.
[8]	K. O. Hill, B. Malo, F. Bilodeau, D. C. Johnson, and J. Albert, “Bragg gratings fabricated in monomode photosensitive optical fiber by UV exposure through a phase mask,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 963–969, 1991. https://doi.org/10.1109/50.85661
[9]	R. Kashyap, Fiber Bragg Gratings, 2nd ed., Academic Press, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009?0?16830?7
[10]	M. C. Large and A. D. Kersey, “Fiber optic Bragg grating sensors: An overview,” IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 204–218, 2001. https://doi.org/10.1109/7361.969397
[11]	T. Erdogan, “Fiber grating spectra,” Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 1277–1294, 1997. https://doi.org/10.1109/50.618322 Semantic Scholar
[12]	D. M. Marom and A. Yariv, “Phase mask technique for fiber grating fabrication: Theory and experiments,” Optics Communications, vol. 97, no. 4–6, pp. 291–296, 1993. https://doi.org/10.1016/0030?4018(93)90398?C
[13]	P. C. C. Freire, J. Albert, and M. C. Large, “Chirped fiber Bragg gratings: Design, fabrication, and applications,” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 11, no. 11, pp. 1450–1452, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1109/68.803601
[14]	X. Bao and L. Chen, “Recent progress in fiber Bragg grating sensors,” Sensors, vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 9267–9309, 2012. https://doi.org/10.3390/s120709267
[15]	M. H. Khan, H. Ahmad, and A. Saleem, “Transfer matrix modeling of uniform and chirped fiber Bragg gratings,” Optik, vol. 125, no. 17, pp. 4902–4908, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2014.04.061

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Erica, R. H. N., Andriamanalina, A. N. (2026). Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance. American Journal of Optics and Photonics, 14(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

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Erica, R. H. N.; Andriamanalina, A. N. Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance. Am. J. Opt. Photonics 2026, 14(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

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AMA Style

Erica RHN, Andriamanalina AN. Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance. Am J Opt Photonics. 2026;14(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11,
  author = {Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica and Ando Nirina Andriamanalina},
  title = {Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance},
  journal = {American Journal of Optics and Photonics},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-8},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajop.20261401.11},
  abstract = {Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are regularly spaced patterns written into the core of optical fibers, which reflect certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass. They are widely used in telecommunications, sensing, and photonics. The most common method to create FBGs is the phase mask technique, a reliable and repeatable approach where an ultraviolet (UV) laser is passed through a carefully designed mask, producing an interference pattern that permanently changes the fiber core’s refractive index. The phase mask is a transparent silica plate with etched grooves that diffract the UV light predominantly into the ±1 orders, while suppressing the zeroth order to low levels (typically < 5%), resulting in an interference pattern with a period half that of the mask grating pitch. The spectral performance of an FBG such as its Bragg wavelength, bandwidth, reflectivity, sidelobe suppression, and spectral shape is directly influenced by the physical design parameters of the phase mask. The grating period of the phase mask determines the Bragg wavelength according to the Bragg condition, while the groove depth and duty cycle affect the diffraction efficiency and interference contrast necessary to produce a strong and uniform index modulation. Variations in these parameters can lead to shifts in spectral response or decreased performance, highlighting the importance of precise mask fabrication. This study examines the relationship between phase mask design and FBG optical characteristics by integrating coupled?mode theory and numerical modeling to quantify how mask geometry and fabrication tolerances influence the resulting grating performance. Understanding this relationship enables optimization of phase mask specifications for enhanced grating reflectivity, tailored bandwidth, and reduced sidelobes, which are essential for high?speed optical communication systems and advanced sensor designs. The insights from this work contribute to improved phase mask design strategies, bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and practical implementation of better FBGs.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance
AU  - Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica
AU  - Ando Nirina Andriamanalina
Y1  - 2026/01/19
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
T2  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JF  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JO  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8494
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
AB  - Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are regularly spaced patterns written into the core of optical fibers, which reflect certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass. They are widely used in telecommunications, sensing, and photonics. The most common method to create FBGs is the phase mask technique, a reliable and repeatable approach where an ultraviolet (UV) laser is passed through a carefully designed mask, producing an interference pattern that permanently changes the fiber core’s refractive index. The phase mask is a transparent silica plate with etched grooves that diffract the UV light predominantly into the ±1 orders, while suppressing the zeroth order to low levels (typically < 5%), resulting in an interference pattern with a period half that of the mask grating pitch. The spectral performance of an FBG such as its Bragg wavelength, bandwidth, reflectivity, sidelobe suppression, and spectral shape is directly influenced by the physical design parameters of the phase mask. The grating period of the phase mask determines the Bragg wavelength according to the Bragg condition, while the groove depth and duty cycle affect the diffraction efficiency and interference contrast necessary to produce a strong and uniform index modulation. Variations in these parameters can lead to shifts in spectral response or decreased performance, highlighting the importance of precise mask fabrication. This study examines the relationship between phase mask design and FBG optical characteristics by integrating coupled?mode theory and numerical modeling to quantify how mask geometry and fabrication tolerances influence the resulting grating performance. Understanding this relationship enables optimization of phase mask specifications for enhanced grating reflectivity, tailored bandwidth, and reduced sidelobes, which are essential for high?speed optical communication systems and advanced sensor designs. The insights from this work contribute to improved phase mask design strategies, bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and practical implementation of better FBGs.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica

Telecommunications, Doctoral School of Engineering Sciences and Innovation, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0003-8089-172X
Ando Nirina Andriamanalina

Telecommunications, Doctoral School of Engineering Sciences and Innovation, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-1384-1932

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APA Style

Erica, R. H. N., Andriamanalina, A. N. (2026). Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance. American Journal of Optics and Photonics, 14(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

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ACS Style

Erica, R. H. N.; Andriamanalina, A. N. Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance. Am. J. Opt. Photonics 2026, 14(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

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AMA Style

Erica RHN, Andriamanalina AN. Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance. Am J Opt Photonics. 2026;14(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11,
  author = {Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica and Ando Nirina Andriamanalina},
  title = {Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance},
  journal = {American Journal of Optics and Photonics},
  volume = {14},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-8},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajop.20261401.11},
  abstract = {Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are regularly spaced patterns written into the core of optical fibers, which reflect certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass. They are widely used in telecommunications, sensing, and photonics. The most common method to create FBGs is the phase mask technique, a reliable and repeatable approach where an ultraviolet (UV) laser is passed through a carefully designed mask, producing an interference pattern that permanently changes the fiber core’s refractive index. The phase mask is a transparent silica plate with etched grooves that diffract the UV light predominantly into the ±1 orders, while suppressing the zeroth order to low levels (typically < 5%), resulting in an interference pattern with a period half that of the mask grating pitch. The spectral performance of an FBG such as its Bragg wavelength, bandwidth, reflectivity, sidelobe suppression, and spectral shape is directly influenced by the physical design parameters of the phase mask. The grating period of the phase mask determines the Bragg wavelength according to the Bragg condition, while the groove depth and duty cycle affect the diffraction efficiency and interference contrast necessary to produce a strong and uniform index modulation. Variations in these parameters can lead to shifts in spectral response or decreased performance, highlighting the importance of precise mask fabrication. This study examines the relationship between phase mask design and FBG optical characteristics by integrating coupled?mode theory and numerical modeling to quantify how mask geometry and fabrication tolerances influence the resulting grating performance. Understanding this relationship enables optimization of phase mask specifications for enhanced grating reflectivity, tailored bandwidth, and reduced sidelobes, which are essential for high?speed optical communication systems and advanced sensor designs. The insights from this work contribute to improved phase mask design strategies, bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and practical implementation of better FBGs.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Correlation Between Phase Mask Design and Fiber Bragg Grating Performance
AU  - Randriana Heritiana Nambinina Erica
AU  - Ando Nirina Andriamanalina
Y1  - 2026/01/19
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
T2  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JF  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
JO  - American Journal of Optics and Photonics
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8494
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20261401.11
AB  - Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are regularly spaced patterns written into the core of optical fibers, which reflect certain wavelengths while allowing others to pass. They are widely used in telecommunications, sensing, and photonics. The most common method to create FBGs is the phase mask technique, a reliable and repeatable approach where an ultraviolet (UV) laser is passed through a carefully designed mask, producing an interference pattern that permanently changes the fiber core’s refractive index. The phase mask is a transparent silica plate with etched grooves that diffract the UV light predominantly into the ±1 orders, while suppressing the zeroth order to low levels (typically < 5%), resulting in an interference pattern with a period half that of the mask grating pitch. The spectral performance of an FBG such as its Bragg wavelength, bandwidth, reflectivity, sidelobe suppression, and spectral shape is directly influenced by the physical design parameters of the phase mask. The grating period of the phase mask determines the Bragg wavelength according to the Bragg condition, while the groove depth and duty cycle affect the diffraction efficiency and interference contrast necessary to produce a strong and uniform index modulation. Variations in these parameters can lead to shifts in spectral response or decreased performance, highlighting the importance of precise mask fabrication. This study examines the relationship between phase mask design and FBG optical characteristics by integrating coupled?mode theory and numerical modeling to quantify how mask geometry and fabrication tolerances influence the resulting grating performance. Understanding this relationship enables optimization of phase mask specifications for enhanced grating reflectivity, tailored bandwidth, and reduced sidelobes, which are essential for high?speed optical communication systems and advanced sensor designs. The insights from this work contribute to improved phase mask design strategies, bridging the gap between theoretical modeling and practical implementation of better FBGs.
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
ER  -

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