Abstract
A CWDM network operating in reflective configuration for multiplexing remote Radio-Frequency (RF) self-referenced fiber-optic intensity sensors is analyzed and experimentally investigated. In the described approach, the use of fiber Bragg gratings as spectral selective mirrors allows to implement delay lines in the electrical domain, achieving more compact sensor-heads and easy-reconfigurable sensing points. Two measurement parameters for the sensing heads are defined and comparatively studied in terms of design parameters, linearity, sensitivity and resolution. The proposed sensor configuration is modeled following the Z-transform formalism, which permits an easy analysis of the system frequency response. Experimental results are presented, showing the characterization of the network performance and considering the properties of sensor self-referencing as well as sensor crosstalk. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America

Abstract
An all fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer using suspended twin-core fiber is described. Due to the birefringence of the fiber cores, two interferometers are obtained when the fiber is illuminated by a polarized light. Applying curvature or temperature to the sensing head, different sensitivities are observed. In order to discriminate curvature from temperature in the suspended twin-core fiber Mach-Zehnder sensor, the matrix method is used.

Abstract
A low-cost monitoring system for measuring the optical power losses of drop fibres in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) passive optical networks (PON) is reported. The proposed system is based on radio-frequency intensity modulation and fibre Bragg grating self-referencing measurement techniques using amplitude normalisation. The monitoring unit is built with an optical broadband light source illuminating the PON from the central office for testing purposes, and the signal processing of the measurements is provided by the low-frequency analogue filters and by a lock-in amplifier. The system allows measuring the optical power losses of the PON branches independently, with increased sensitivity in a re-configurable and flexible way. The monitoring technique has been studied and experimentally validated in a coarse WDM-PON prototype, as a first approach to dense WDM-PON applications. The merits of the proposed monitoring system with regards to other WDM-PON monitoring techniques and the scalability of the proposed system to dense WDM-PON architectures are also discussed.

Abstract
In the field of aqueous environment studies, long-period fiber gratings are very attractive for the real-time monitoring of physical parameters, such as temperature and salinity. However, due to the fiber jacket removal, these are fragile devices when applied in real conditions, where mechanical loads and contamination with algae and other organic materials must be taken into account. This work describes a refractive index sensing head that has been developed and characterized for in situ measurement of water salinity and resistance to hard conditions.

Abstract
In this work, an innovative fully integrated monitoring infrastructure based on optical fibre sensors was developed and implemented. In the framework of the research project named PROTEU [Tecnologias Avan double dagger adas para a Monitoriza double dagger o de Sistemas Estuarinos e Costeiros (PDCTM/P/MAR/15275/1999)], an 11 km optical fibre cable with Bragg sensors each 500 m was installed from the lagoon mouth to Vouga river, along the bed of the Espinheiro channel, allowing the real-time measurement of water temperature at each sensor location. The results of this project are currently feeding several studies concerning Ria de Aveiro and the surrounding area and are crucial for a continuous assessment and management of the environmental conditions. Meanwhile, a fibre optic sensing system for simultaneous measurement of temperature and salinity based on fibre Bragg grating (FBG) technology was also developed. In the following sections, a complete description of the fabrication process, as well as theoretical and experimental results regarding this particular sensing system, are addressed. Earlier in situ local measurements, as well as the latest remote monitoring and data processing scheme, are described. The developed technology is now being exploited by FiberSensing, an INESC Porto spin-off company devoted to the development of optical fibre Bragg grating-based sensor systems for advanced monitoring applications. The main markets of the company are the ones of structural health monitoring in civil and geotechnical engineering, energy production and distribution, and environment.

Abstract
In this work we describe the characterization of high Q optical microresonators using an all fiber based system. Silica microspheres fabricated on a fiber tip by electric arc discharge are characterized using a simple interrogation system based on an adiabatic fiber taper coupler and on the collection of scattered radiation by a multimode fiber.