# An Improved Theoretical Approach to Study Electromagnetic Waves through Fiber Bragg Gratings

Authors: Pedro Pereyra
Journal: Advances in Condensed Matter Physics
 (2017)

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## Abstract

We show that using the theory of finite periodic systems we obtain an improved approach to calculate transmission coefficients and transmission times of electromagnetic waves propagating through fiber Bragg gratings. We discuss similarities, advantages, and differences between this approach and the well known less accurate one coupled mode approximation and the pseudo-Floquet Mathieu functions approach.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

A complete theoretical description of the electromagnetic waves motion through fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) remains to be achieved. Despite the numerous numerical calculations and simulations (see, e.g., [1, 2]) the full analytical solution of the wave equation in the presence of a periodic modulation of the refractive index is still an open problem. In the last years, a large number of fiber Bragg gratings devices were developed for different types of applications, among others, for optical communications devices, tunable wavelength filters and temperature, and pressure sensors [3–8]. In the theoretical approaches proposed to study these systems, one has also to deal, besides of the spatial modulation of the refractive index, with model limitations and the finiteness of the actual Bragg systems. In the small modulation amplitude limit, the wave equation becomes a Mathieu equation, and one has to face divergency problems in the numerical evaluation of these functions. For standard wavelengths of FBG, written with ultraviolet lasers, 1 cm fiber contains thousands of refractive-index modulations. An extensive literature has been published on coupled modes approximation [9–13], and a simplified one-dimensional model of two counterrunning and synchronous modes was introduced by Kogelnik and Shank [14, 15]. This single mode approximation, called also the one coupled mode approximation (OCMA), has been a useful and simplified approach [16]. However this model works well only for frequencies in the neighborhood of the Bragg frequency ωB. For this reason an alternative method that will make it possible to study the transmission properties of electromagnetic waves in the whole range of frequencies is very much called for.In this paper, we will present a theoretical approach, based on the theory of finite periodic systems [17–23] (TFPS) that will allow a precise calculation of transmission coefficients and transmission phase times through finite fiber Bragg gratings. We will show that, at least, the predictions of the well-established models are fully reproduced.In the next sections we will outline the one coupled mode approximation (OCMA), the Mathieu functions approximation, and the theory of finite periodic systems (TFPS). We will derive the relevant results using the transfer matrix method and we will apply these results to study the evolution of longitudinal electromagnetic waves across a fiber Bragg grating. We will evaluate transmission coefficients and transmission times of specific Bragg grating fibers and compare the specific results of the well-established one coupled mode approximation with those of the theory of finite periodic systems (TFPS) and the Mathieu functions approximation. To overcome divergencies using Mathieu function we will also show results obtained in a combined approach of Mathieu functions and the TFPS.


## 2. Definition of the Fiber Bragg Grating

Suppose we have a Bragg grating fiber of lengthLo and refractive index (we use this notation to avoid confusion with the number of unit cells, n, in the fiber Bragg grating):(1)rz=ro1+2Vocos⁡2πzΛ,where Λ is the grating period (Λ=λ/2ro), ro is the effective refractive index, λ is the vacuum wave length, and Vo is the modulation amplitude. This is a typical periodic system. The space-time evolution of electromagnetic fields in these systems is governed by the wave equation.(2)∂2E∂z2=r2zc2∂2E∂t2.To study the space-time evolution of electromagnetic waves, we shall, first, recall the one coupled mode approximation and obtain the transmission coefficient and the transmission time as functions of the frequency. We will then obtain the same quantities using the Mathieu functions and, at the end, using the theory of finite periodic systems.


### 2.1. The FBG in the One Coupled Mode Approximation

In the one coupled mode approximation and following Erdogan’s notation, the system of equations for the left and right moving field amplitudes, dominant at the Brag reflection frequency, is written as(3)∂u∂z=ηu+κv,∂v∂z=-ηv-κu.If we define the wave vector(4)fz=uzvz,the system of (3) can be written as(5)ddzf=ηκ-κ-ηf, whose solution, for η and κ independent of z, is(6)fz=eηκ-κ-ηz. It is easy to verify that the transfer matrix(7)Mz2,z1=eησz-iκσyz2-z1,with σz and σy being the Pauli matrices, satisfies the relation(8)uz2vz2=Mz2,z1uz1vz1. Expanding the exponential function, the transfer matrix in (7) becomes [16](9)Mz2,z1=αGβG-βGδG, where(10)αG=cosh⁡Kz2-z1+ηKsinh⁡Kz2-z1,βG=κKsinh⁡Kz2-z1,δG=cosh⁡Kz2-z1-ηKsinh⁡Kz2-z1. Here K=η2-κ2. If we consider the parameters (11)η=irocω-ωB=irocδ,κ=ikBVo=irocωBVo=irocωo, the transfer matrix of a single Bragg grating of length Lo=z2-z1 becomes(12)MBGa=cosh⁡KLo+iδΩsinh⁡KLoiωoΩsinh⁡KLo-iωoΩsinh⁡KLocosh⁡KLo-iδΩsinh⁡KLo,with Ω=ωo2-δ2=ωo2-(ω-ωB)2=cK/ro. The frequency δ=ω-ωB is known as the detuning frequency. It is worth noticing that this matrix lacks the information of the air-BG and the BG-air interfaces. To describe transmission through a finite BG, bounded by air or some other media, one needs in principle to multiply by(13)MBGa=12rara+rra-rra-rra+r,MaBG=12rr+rar-rar-rar+ra, on the left and right hand sides, respectively. For BG bounded by air ra=1 and r≃ro. It we take into account these matrices, the effect on the physical quantities is negligible. For this reason one can keep the manageable form (12). Given the simple relation(14)tG=1αG∗ between the transmission amplitude and the transfer matrix elements, the transmission coefficient and phase time of a FBG in the OCMA become(15)TG=1cosh2KLo+δ2/Ω2sinh2KLo,τG=noLoTGcδ2Ω2sinh2⁡KLo-cosh2⁡KLo+noTGcΩ1+δ2Ω2cosh⁡KLosinh⁡KLo.In the particular case of δ=w-wB=0 we have(16)Ts≡TGδ=0=1cosh2⁡kBVoLo,τs≡τGδ=0=rocokBVotanh⁡kBVoLo. These expressions, written here with the notation of [24], are characteristic from the one coupled mode approach [16]. In Figures 1(a) and 1(b) we plot the transmission coefficient TG and the tunneling time τG, as functions of the detuning frequency δ, for different values of the modulation amplitude Vo. For these graphs we considered Lo=8.5 mm, ω=1.261×1015 Hz, and ro=1.452. Increasing the amplitude Vo, the optical gap becomes deeper and wider. At the same time, the transmission time in the gap becomes smaller. In the next sections we will present the Mathieu functions approach and the theory of finite periodic systems and, with the purpose of comparing with the results shown in Figure 1, we will calculate the same physical quantities for a system similar to that considered here.Figure 1
The transmission coefficient (a) and the phase time (b) in (15), as functions of the detuning frequency δ=ω-ωB, for different values of the modulation amplitude Vo with wB=1.261×1015 Hz, r0=1.452, and Lo=8.5 mm.
(a) (b)


### 2.2. The FBG Described by Mathieu Functions

If we come back to (2) and write the refractive index r2, for 2Vo≪1, as(17)r2z=ro21+2Vocos⁡2πzΛ2≃ro21+4Vocos⁡2πzΛ, the wave equation becomes the Mathieu differential equation(18)d2Ezdz2+aE-2qEcos⁡2πzΛEz=0, whose solutions E1(z)=Se(aE,qE;kBz+π/2) and E2(z)=So(aE,qE;kBz+π/2) are the well known even and odd Mathieu functions [25], with k=ω/c, aE=k2ro2, qE=2k2ro2Vo, and z→z±Λ/2. Defining the wave vector(19)Fz=EzE′z=ASe+BSoASe′+BSo′, it is possible to show that the transfer matrix(20)Wz2,z1=θμνχ with(21a)θz1,z2=So′z1Sez2-Se′z1Soz2Wr,(21b)μz1,z2=Sez1Soz2-Soz1Sez2Wr,(21c)νz1,z2=So′z1Se′z2-Se′z1So′z2Wr,(21d)χz1,z2=Sez1So′z2-Soz1Se′z2Wr,(22)Wr=Sez1So′z1-Soz1Se′z1, satisfies the relation(23)Fz2=Wz2,z1Fz1. The transfer matrix W(z2,z1) connects the wave vectors of Mathieu functions and their derivatives at any two points, z2 and z1, of an infinite periodic system. The actual Bragg gratings are finite with thousands of unit cells. In this case, like in the standard approach of infinite periodic systems, we assume a kind of Born-von Kármán approximation, but for the transfer matrix. More precise results will be obtained using the theory of finite periodic functions. To evaluate transmission coefficients and phase times of a BG whose length is Lo, we need to transform the matrix W(Lo,0) into the transfer matrix M(Lo,0) that connects wave vectors of propagating functions at two points just outside the BG. When the wave number of the propagating functions in vacuum is k, the relation between these matrices is [26](24)MGLo,0=121-ik-11ik-1WLo,011ik-ik. After multiplying, the transfer matrix that we obtain for a single Bragg grating is(25)MGLo,0=αGβGβG∗αG∗ with(26)αG=θ0,Lo+χ0,Lo2+ik2μ0,Lo-ν0,Lo2k,βG=θ0,Lo-χ0,Lo2-ik2μ0,Lo+ν0,Lo2k. The transmission coefficients and the phase time are therefore given by(27)TG=1αG2=4k2k2θ+χ2+k2μ-ν2,(28)τG=TαGr∂αGi∂ω-αGi∂αGr∂ω.In Figure 2 we plot the transmission coefficient TG, for the same parameter values used in Figure 1. The qualitative and quantitative agreements are good. We do not present the phase time of (28) because the evaluation, using Mathematica code, diverges for Bragg-grating lengths of the order of 10μ. To overcome this difficulty one can combine this Mathieu functions approach with the theory of finite periodic systems. The results of this combined approach will be shown after discussing the results obtained in the TFPS.Figure 2
The transmission coefficient as a function of the detuning frequency, evaluated with (27) and the Mathieu functions, for different values of the modulation amplitude Vo and the same parameter values used in Figure 1. The behavior compares quite well with Figure 1; however the phase time using a code like Mathematica diverges for BG length above Lo≃10μ.


### 2.3. The FBG in the TFPS

To simplify the calculation we shall assume that the refractive index isr(z)=ro(1+q(z)) with q(z), a sectionally constant periodic function defined as(29)qz=Vo20<zmod⁡Λ≤Λ2-Vo2Λ2<zmod⁡Λ≤Λ. In this case the unit cell transfer matrix is (30)MΛ,0=αββ∗α∗ with the real and imaginary parts of α and β given by(31)αR=cos⁡kr1acos⁡kr2b-r12+r222r1r2sin⁡kr1asin⁡kr2b,αI=sin⁡kr1acos⁡kr2b+r12+r222r1r2cos⁡kr1asin⁡kr2b,βI=-r12-r222r1r2sin⁡kr2b,βR=0.Here a=b=Λ/2 are the half-cell lengths with refractive indices r1=r0-Vo/2 and r2=r0+Vo/2, respectively. In the theory of finite periodic systems, the transfer matrix of the whole n-cells Bragg grating is [21](32)MnΛ,0=αnβnβn∗αn∗with(33)αn=UnαR-α∗Un-1αR.βn=βUn-1αR,where Un(αR) is the Chebyshev polynomial of the second kind and order n, evaluated at αR. The transmission coefficient and the phase time of the n-cells Bragg grating can be evaluated from(34)Tn=1αn2=1Un-α∗Un-12,τnE=-aħdkdE+ħαn212U2n-1αRdαIdE-αI1-αR2n-αR2U2n-1αRdαRdE.In Figure3 we plot these quantities for the same parameters as in Figure 1. There is also a very good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the results in Figure 1.Figure 3
The transmission coefficient (a) and the phase time (b) from the TFPS, as functions of the frequency, for different values of the “modulation amplitude”Vo with wB=1.261×1015 Hz, r0=1.452, and Lo=8.5 mm.
(a) (b)


### 2.4. The FBG Combining Mathieu Functions and the TFPS

To avoid divergencies when standard codes like Mathematica are used to evaluate Mathieu functions and their derivatives, one can divide the Bragg grating of lengthLo by some natural number n≳1000 such that the Mathieu functions evaluated at the new BG length lo=Lo/n is congruent with Λ. The smaller Bragg gratings can now be taken as the unit cell in the TFPS. For n a multiple of 689 with wB=πc/roΛ=1.261871015 Hz and ro=1.452 we obtain the transmission coefficients and phase times shown in Figure 4, for the same values of Vo as in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The qualitative and quantitative agreement is really good.Figure 4
The transmission coefficient (a) and the phase time (b) from a combined Mathieu functions and FPS theory, as functions of the detuning frequency, for different values of the “modulation amplitude”Vo with wB=1.261×1015 Hz, r0=1.452, n=3445, and Lo=8.5 mm.
(a) (b)The theory of finite periodic systems and the Mathieu functions approach were also applied to study the double Bragg grating, particularly to understand the effect of the Bragg gratings separation in the tunneling time behavior and to compare with other approaches’ predictions [27].


### 2.5. Conclusions

We have shown that the transmission of electromagnetic waves, through fiber Bragg gratings, can be faithfully studied using the theory of finite periodic system either alone or combined with the Mathieu functions.


## 2.1. The FBG in the One Coupled Mode Approximation

In the one coupled mode approximation and following Erdogan’s notation, the system of equations for the left and right moving field amplitudes, dominant at the Brag reflection frequency, is written as(3)∂u∂z=ηu+κv,∂v∂z=-ηv-κu.If we define the wave vector(4)fz=uzvz,the system of (3) can be written as(5)ddzf=ηκ-κ-ηf, whose solution, for η and κ independent of z, is(6)fz=eηκ-κ-ηz. It is easy to verify that the transfer matrix(7)Mz2,z1=eησz-iκσyz2-z1,with σz and σy being the Pauli matrices, satisfies the relation(8)uz2vz2=Mz2,z1uz1vz1. Expanding the exponential function, the transfer matrix in (7) becomes [16](9)Mz2,z1=αGβG-βGδG, where(10)αG=cosh⁡Kz2-z1+ηKsinh⁡Kz2-z1,βG=κKsinh⁡Kz2-z1,δG=cosh⁡Kz2-z1-ηKsinh⁡Kz2-z1. Here K=η2-κ2. If we consider the parameters (11)η=irocω-ωB=irocδ,κ=ikBVo=irocωBVo=irocωo, the transfer matrix of a single Bragg grating of length Lo=z2-z1 becomes(12)MBGa=cosh⁡KLo+iδΩsinh⁡KLoiωoΩsinh⁡KLo-iωoΩsinh⁡KLocosh⁡KLo-iδΩsinh⁡KLo,with Ω=ωo2-δ2=ωo2-(ω-ωB)2=cK/ro. The frequency δ=ω-ωB is known as the detuning frequency. It is worth noticing that this matrix lacks the information of the air-BG and the BG-air interfaces. To describe transmission through a finite BG, bounded by air or some other media, one needs in principle to multiply by(13)MBGa=12rara+rra-rra-rra+r,MaBG=12rr+rar-rar-rar+ra, on the left and right hand sides, respectively. For BG bounded by air ra=1 and r≃ro. It we take into account these matrices, the effect on the physical quantities is negligible. For this reason one can keep the manageable form (12). Given the simple relation(14)tG=1αG∗ between the transmission amplitude and the transfer matrix elements, the transmission coefficient and phase time of a FBG in the OCMA become(15)TG=1cosh2KLo+δ2/Ω2sinh2KLo,τG=noLoTGcδ2Ω2sinh2⁡KLo-cosh2⁡KLo+noTGcΩ1+δ2Ω2cosh⁡KLosinh⁡KLo.In the particular case of δ=w-wB=0 we have(16)Ts≡TGδ=0=1cosh2⁡kBVoLo,τs≡τGδ=0=rocokBVotanh⁡kBVoLo. These expressions, written here with the notation of [24], are characteristic from the one coupled mode approach [16]. In Figures 1(a) and 1(b) we plot the transmission coefficient TG and the tunneling time τG, as functions of the detuning frequency δ, for different values of the modulation amplitude Vo. For these graphs we considered Lo=8.5 mm, ω=1.261×1015 Hz, and ro=1.452. Increasing the amplitude Vo, the optical gap becomes deeper and wider. At the same time, the transmission time in the gap becomes smaller. In the next sections we will present the Mathieu functions approach and the theory of finite periodic systems and, with the purpose of comparing with the results shown in Figure 1, we will calculate the same physical quantities for a system similar to that considered here.Figure 1
The transmission coefficient (a) and the phase time (b) in (15), as functions of the detuning frequency δ=ω-ωB, for different values of the modulation amplitude Vo with wB=1.261×1015 Hz, r0=1.452, and Lo=8.5 mm.
(a) (b)


## 2.2. The FBG Described by Mathieu Functions

If we come back to (2) and write the refractive index r2, for 2Vo≪1, as(17)r2z=ro21+2Vocos⁡2πzΛ2≃ro21+4Vocos⁡2πzΛ, the wave equation becomes the Mathieu differential equation(18)d2Ezdz2+aE-2qEcos⁡2πzΛEz=0, whose solutions E1(z)=Se(aE,qE;kBz+π/2) and E2(z)=So(aE,qE;kBz+π/2) are the well known even and odd Mathieu functions [25], with k=ω/c, aE=k2ro2, qE=2k2ro2Vo, and z→z±Λ/2. Defining the wave vector(19)Fz=EzE′z=ASe+BSoASe′+BSo′, it is possible to show that the transfer matrix(20)Wz2,z1=θμνχ with(21a)θz1,z2=So′z1Sez2-Se′z1Soz2Wr,(21b)μz1,z2=Sez1Soz2-Soz1Sez2Wr,(21c)νz1,z2=So′z1Se′z2-Se′z1So′z2Wr,(21d)χz1,z2=Sez1So′z2-Soz1Se′z2Wr,(22)Wr=Sez1So′z1-Soz1Se′z1, satisfies the relation(23)Fz2=Wz2,z1Fz1. The transfer matrix W(z2,z1) connects the wave vectors of Mathieu functions and their derivatives at any two points, z2 and z1, of an infinite periodic system. The actual Bragg gratings are finite with thousands of unit cells. In this case, like in the standard approach of infinite periodic systems, we assume a kind of Born-von Kármán approximation, but for the transfer matrix. More precise results will be obtained using the theory of finite periodic functions. To evaluate transmission coefficients and phase times of a BG whose length is Lo, we need to transform the matrix W(Lo,0) into the transfer matrix M(Lo,0) that connects wave vectors of propagating functions at two points just outside the BG. When the wave number of the propagating functions in vacuum is k, the relation between these matrices is [26](24)MGLo,0=121-ik-11ik-1WLo,011ik-ik. After multiplying, the transfer matrix that we obtain for a single Bragg grating is(25)MGLo,0=αGβGβG∗αG∗ with(26)αG=θ0,Lo+χ0,Lo2+ik2μ0,Lo-ν0,Lo2k,βG=θ0,Lo-χ0,Lo2-ik2μ0,Lo+ν0,Lo2k. The transmission coefficients and the phase time are therefore given by(27)TG=1αG2=4k2k2θ+χ2+k2μ-ν2,(28)τG=TαGr∂αGi∂ω-αGi∂αGr∂ω.In Figure 2 we plot the transmission coefficient TG, for the same parameter values used in Figure 1. The qualitative and quantitative agreements are good. We do not present the phase time of (28) because the evaluation, using Mathematica code, diverges for Bragg-grating lengths of the order of 10μ. To overcome this difficulty one can combine this Mathieu functions approach with the theory of finite periodic systems. The results of this combined approach will be shown after discussing the results obtained in the TFPS.Figure 2
The transmission coefficient as a function of the detuning frequency, evaluated with (27) and the Mathieu functions, for different values of the modulation amplitude Vo and the same parameter values used in Figure 1. The behavior compares quite well with Figure 1; however the phase time using a code like Mathematica diverges for BG length above Lo≃10μ.


## 2.3. The FBG in the TFPS

To simplify the calculation we shall assume that the refractive index isr(z)=ro(1+q(z)) with q(z), a sectionally constant periodic function defined as(29)qz=Vo20<zmod⁡Λ≤Λ2-Vo2Λ2<zmod⁡Λ≤Λ. In this case the unit cell transfer matrix is (30)MΛ,0=αββ∗α∗ with the real and imaginary parts of α and β given by(31)αR=cos⁡kr1acos⁡kr2b-r12+r222r1r2sin⁡kr1asin⁡kr2b,αI=sin⁡kr1acos⁡kr2b+r12+r222r1r2cos⁡kr1asin⁡kr2b,βI=-r12-r222r1r2sin⁡kr2b,βR=0.Here a=b=Λ/2 are the half-cell lengths with refractive indices r1=r0-Vo/2 and r2=r0+Vo/2, respectively. In the theory of finite periodic systems, the transfer matrix of the whole n-cells Bragg grating is [21](32)MnΛ,0=αnβnβn∗αn∗with(33)αn=UnαR-α∗Un-1αR.βn=βUn-1αR,where Un(αR) is the Chebyshev polynomial of the second kind and order n, evaluated at αR. The transmission coefficient and the phase time of the n-cells Bragg grating can be evaluated from(34)Tn=1αn2=1Un-α∗Un-12,τnE=-aħdkdE+ħαn212U2n-1αRdαIdE-αI1-αR2n-αR2U2n-1αRdαRdE.In Figure3 we plot these quantities for the same parameters as in Figure 1. There is also a very good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the results in Figure 1.Figure 3
The transmission coefficient (a) and the phase time (b) from the TFPS, as functions of the frequency, for different values of the “modulation amplitude”Vo with wB=1.261×1015 Hz, r0=1.452, and Lo=8.5 mm.
(a) (b)


## 2.4. The FBG Combining Mathieu Functions and the TFPS

To avoid divergencies when standard codes like Mathematica are used to evaluate Mathieu functions and their derivatives, one can divide the Bragg grating of lengthLo by some natural number n≳1000 such that the Mathieu functions evaluated at the new BG length lo=Lo/n is congruent with Λ. The smaller Bragg gratings can now be taken as the unit cell in the TFPS. For n a multiple of 689 with wB=πc/roΛ=1.261871015 Hz and ro=1.452 we obtain the transmission coefficients and phase times shown in Figure 4, for the same values of Vo as in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The qualitative and quantitative agreement is really good.Figure 4
The transmission coefficient (a) and the phase time (b) from a combined Mathieu functions and FPS theory, as functions of the detuning frequency, for different values of the “modulation amplitude”Vo with wB=1.261×1015 Hz, r0=1.452, n=3445, and Lo=8.5 mm.
(a) (b)The theory of finite periodic systems and the Mathieu functions approach were also applied to study the double Bragg grating, particularly to understand the effect of the Bragg gratings separation in the tunneling time behavior and to compare with other approaches’ predictions [27].


## 2.5. Conclusions

We have shown that the transmission of electromagnetic waves, through fiber Bragg gratings, can be faithfully studied using the theory of finite periodic system either alone or combined with the Mathieu functions.



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