This paper presents the state of the art distributed sensing systems, based on optical fibres, developed and qualified for the French Cigéo project, the underground repository for high level and intermediate level long-lived radioactive wastes. Four main parameters, namely strain, temperature, radiation and hydrogen concentration are currently investigated by optical fibre sensors, as well as the tolerances of selected technologies to the unique constraints of the Cigéo’s severe environment. Using fluorine-doped silica optical fibre surrounded by a carbon layer and polyimide coating, it is possible to exploit its Raman, Brillouin and Rayleigh scattering signatures to achieve the distributed sensing of the temperature and the strain inside the repository cells of radioactive wastes. Regarding the dose measurement, promising solutions are proposed based on Radiation Induced Attenuation (RIA) responses of sensitive fibres such as the P-doped ones. While for hydrogen measurements, the potential of specialty optical fibres with Pd particles embedded in their silica matrix is currently studied for this gas monitoring through its impact on the fibre Brillouin signature evolution.

The purpose of this presentation is to give an overview of techniques available to produce original optical fibers and application dedicated. Some alternative fabrication solutions to the well-know stack and draw technique will be developed, following by the interest to join the stack and draw technique to other ones like Repusil® Technique, Rod in Tube and finally the Powder in Tube methods, first described by the Bell Lab in the seventies and up to date since some years by several groups in the world. Realization of performing optical devices such as light sources or optical sensors can be purposed by this two last original ways.