Kovacs-like memory effect mediated fiber Bragg grating: resembling a silica quipu

Qiaochu Yang, Zhiyuan Xu, Xu Yue, Junqiu Long, Haopeng Wang, Yihan Zha, Furong Feng, Yang Ran () and Bai-Ou Guan ()
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Qiaochu Yang: Jinan University
Zhiyuan Xu: Jinan University
Xu Yue: Jinan University
Junqiu Long: Jinan University
Haopeng Wang: Jinan University
Yihan Zha: Jinan University
Furong Feng: Jinan University
Yang Ran: Jinan University
Bai-Ou Guan: Jinan University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract In antiquity, civilizations employed stone carvings and knotted quipu cords for information preservation. Modern telecommunications rely on optical fibers - silica glass strands engineered for light transmission - yet their capacity as archival media remains untapped. This study explores a novel fiber Bragg grating (FBG) configuration exhibiting thermally programmable memory effects for optical data storage. Capitalizing on temperature-dependent spectral characteristics, we demonstrate finite spectral tuning through controlled thermal annealing, achieving irreversible spectral modifications via a light-induced stress mechanism analogous to the Kovacs memory effect in glassy materials. The engineered dual-dip FBG architecture enables multiplexed wavelength encoding, functioning simultaneously as a thermal history recorder and laser-writable data medium - mirroring the information knots of ancient quipu devices. This optical quipu concept pioneers one-dimensional photonic memory technology, opening new avenues for optical fiber applications in the information age.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61538-y

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