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In this study, quenching dynamics in RE-doped silica glass were investigated through the measurement of excited-state lifetimes of heavily doped silica micro-hemispheres fabricated directly on the end face of a multimode fiber (MMF).

As demand for customized specialty fibers grows, standardized production methods face challenges. This article reviews industry standards and discusses potentially disruptive techniques that enable rapid prototyping and fabrication of optical fiber devices. Furthermore, we showcase laser powder deposition's (LPD) potential for additive manufacturing (AM) of customized glass structures. In the case of, for example, fiber preforms, although the feasible size is smaller than the industry standard, utilizing laser‐based manufacturing techniques for a small batch production presents an attractive avenue for rapid prototyping and expedites material and design optimization. In the realm of AM of glass, LPD offers numerous benefits, including minimal shrinkage, high densification, and the ability to tailor glass composition to achieve desired optical properties. The article reviews the latest achievements and highlights future directions in this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]