Impact of water and ice 1h formation in a photonic crystal fiber grating.

The impact of ice 1h formation inside the holes of a photonic crystal fiber Bragg grating was analyzed and discussed. As a result of the ice's expansion, a broadening of the grating spectrum was observed that corresponds to internal microbending of the fiber and after some temperature cycling leads to failure of the fiber. An analytical model with which to estimate the internal compression forces is proposed, and the calculated values are found to be in agreement with reported data.