Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) in different multimode glass fibers with a core diameter of 200 μm are determined. Antireflective coatings for fiber end-faces with high LIDT are developed, which enhance the SBS reflectivity and reduce unwanted front-face reflections. The morphology of pump- and Stokes-radiation induced damages is investigated using atomic force microscopy.

This article provides an overview of the field of optical-fiber sensing, including a brief introduction to the properties of optical fibers that make them suitable for material characterization and monitoring. Some of the recent developments in the field are described, with an emphasis on Bragg grating sensors, multiplexed systems, and chemical sensing, as well as the new field of microstructured fiber.