Since its first creation, glass has always fascinated with its optical properties, its ability to let light through without being invisible. One of the most spectacular achievements of optical glass is the optical fiber for which considerable work has been done to make it as transparent as possible. However, for twenty years, contrary to this quest for transparency, nanoparticles have been inserted into optical fibres. First designed to develop new lasers and amplifiers, the lowest possible particle-induced light scattering then sought has for the last four years, on the contrary, been exacerbated in order to develop new sensors.
Nanoparticle-doped optical fibers, investigated first as fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers, have gained tremendous interest over the past few years as fiber sensors. One of the main interests of such fibers relies on the ability to develop a distributed sensor, allowing real-time measurement with multiplexed architecture. To go beyond the actual proof of concept, we discuss in this perspective paper three main challenges to tackle: understanding light propagation in heterogeneous materials, controlling nanoparticle formation in glass, and engineering nanoparticle characteristics. Identified as the main directions to follow, they will contribute to promote nanoparticle-doped fiber sensors in the next few years.
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