Influences of micro- and nanostructuring on light guiding (Invited Paper)

New techniques for introducing micro- and nanostructures in the core region of optical waveguides or fibers offer new opportunities to influence the propagation and coupling conditions of guided light. Such modifications include e.g. single mode conditions for optical fibers, the range of the numerical aperture, dispersion properties, mode shape, extended wavelength ranges or guiding with multiple cores. Although many developments were triggered by possible applications in communication technology, these new opportunities in functionality offer attractive chances also for new investigations into sensing with optical fibers.