Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come

This perspective article delves into the current performance limitations of distributed optical fiber sensors and proposes avenues for future advancements, as envisioned by the author, whose four-decade-long career has been dedicated to this transformative field. By upscaling the dimension of collec...

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Main Author: Luc Thévenaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsens.2025.1546392/full
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author Luc Thévenaz
author_facet Luc Thévenaz
author_sort Luc Thévenaz
collection DOAJ
description This perspective article delves into the current performance limitations of distributed optical fiber sensors and proposes avenues for future advancements, as envisioned by the author, whose four-decade-long career has been dedicated to this transformative field. By upscaling the dimension of collected data, distributed sensors are essential in enabling large-scale data acquisition for “big data” systems, and optical fibers offer a unique, highly effective platform for distributed sensing. This article examines the ultimate performance achievable using state-of-the-art technologies across different sensor types. It further explores potential innovations, such as the adoption of advanced signal processing, novel fiber designs, and artificial intelligence, that could drive significant improvements in sensing performance and applications.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-de5f2007381744ee892dfb299d22a7762025-08-20T02:08:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sensors2673-50672025-04-01610.3389/fsens.2025.15463921546392Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to comeLuc ThévenazThis perspective article delves into the current performance limitations of distributed optical fiber sensors and proposes avenues for future advancements, as envisioned by the author, whose four-decade-long career has been dedicated to this transformative field. By upscaling the dimension of collected data, distributed sensors are essential in enabling large-scale data acquisition for “big data” systems, and optical fibers offer a unique, highly effective platform for distributed sensing. This article examines the ultimate performance achievable using state-of-the-art technologies across different sensor types. It further explores potential innovations, such as the adoption of advanced signal processing, novel fiber designs, and artificial intelligence, that could drive significant improvements in sensing performance and applications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsens.2025.1546392/fulloptical fiber sensordistributed fiber sensordistributed temperature sensingRayleigh scatteringBrillouin scatteringRaman scattering
spellingShingle Luc Thévenaz
Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come
Frontiers in Sensors
optical fiber sensor
distributed fiber sensor
distributed temperature sensing
Rayleigh scattering
Brillouin scattering
Raman scattering
title Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come
title_full Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come
title_fullStr Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come
title_full_unstemmed Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come
title_short Distributed optical fiber sensors: what is known and what is to come
title_sort distributed optical fiber sensors what is known and what is to come
topic optical fiber sensor
distributed fiber sensor
distributed temperature sensing
Rayleigh scattering
Brillouin scattering
Raman scattering
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsens.2025.1546392/full
work_keys_str_mv AT lucthevenaz distributedopticalfibersensorswhatisknownandwhatistocome