Generation of side-emitting and -detecting fibers with patterned scattering zones by pulse laser treatment

Summary form only given. Well-known devices to transform the angular spectrum of side-emitting and -detecting fibers are light-induced Bragg gratings. The efficiency of such high spatial frequency index gratings strongly depends on the wavelength, and the fabrication is costly. As an alternative and simple approach, we investigated the possibility to generate periodically as well as quasi-homogeneously arranged scattering zones along fibers of different materials (glass, quartz, polymers, diameters 200...1500 /spl mu/m) by laser treatment.