Thermal approach to classifying sequentially written fiber Bragg gratings.

We demonstrate thermal classification of sequentially written fiber Bragg gratings. This Letter presents a process to determine the type of fiber Bragg grating written in SMF28 and GF4A by introducing the gratings to thermal treatment. This technique can be applied to several approaches based on sequential writing, including the small spot direct ultraviolet writing technique. Four different types of gratings have been identified, which are dependent on the fiber type and fluence used during the writing process.