Encrypted optical fiber tag based on encoded fiber Bragg grating array

Abstract Optical fibers are typically used in telecommunications services for data transmission, where the use of fiber tags is essential to distinguish between the different transmission fibers or channels and thus ensure the working functionality of the communication system. Traditional physical entity marking methods for fiber labeling are bulky, easily confused, and, most importantly, the label information can be accessed easily by all potential users. This work proposes an encrypted optical fiber tag based on an encoded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array that is fabricated using a point-by-point femtosecond laser pulse chain inscription method. Gratings with different resonant wavelengths and reflectivities are realized by adjusting the grating period and the refractive index modulations. It is demonstrated that a binary data sequence carried by a fiber tag can be inscribed into the fiber core in the form of an FBG array, and the tag data can be encrypted through appropriate design of the spatial distributions of the FBGs with various reflection wavelengths and reflectivities. The proposed fiber tag technology can be used for applications in port identification, encrypted data storage, and transmission in fiber networks.