Abstract
Speckle-based fiber optic sensors are well-known to offer high sensitivity but are strongly limited on the interrogation side by low camera frame rates and dynamic range. To address this limitation, we present a novel interrogation framework that explores event-based vision to achieve high throughput, high bandwidth, and low-latency speckle analysis of a multimode optical fiber sensor. In addition, leveraging an optimized decomposition of the raw event streams through multi-point calibration and machine learning optimization, our approach also proves capable of isolating simultaneous deformations applied at distinct points. The experimental results validate the methodology by separating the signals of four piezoelectric actuators over a 400Hz - 20kHz range with minimal crosstalk applied over varying distances from 3cm to 75cm. Overall, these results establish event-driven speckle interrogation as a new versatile platform for real-time, multi-point acoustic sensing and pave the way for its application in complex and unstructured environments in future works.

Abstract
Many physical and chemical processes of interest evolve on timescales that push the limits of conventional spec troscopic instrumentation. Indeed, the temporal resolution of standard spectrometers is often insufficient to track these dynamics, which is connected to the fact that most systems rely on frame-based sensors, imposing funda mental constraints on acquisition speed, sensitivity, and data efficiency, frequently limiting practical operation to the kilohertz regime. In this work, we present an approach to circumvent this limitation by developing an event-based spectrometer to enable spectral reconstruction with microsecond temporal resolution by leveraging a Czerny-Turner configuration combined with asynchronous and event-driven sensing. A dedicated signal process ing pipeline converts the resulting stream of binary events into calibrated spectra through temporal accumulation, geometric correction, and vertical spatial integration of the spectral line, covering a 234 nm bandwidth in the visible range with an estimated spectral dispersion of approximately 0.18 nm per pixel. Performance characteri zation under temporally modulated illumination demonstrates that the event-based spectrometer can reconstruct spectra at probing rates of up to tens of kilohertz, far exceeding the practical limits of a conventional frame-based spectrometer operated in parallel, while accurately preserving spectral peak positions and relative spectral fea tures. Finally, to further illustrate its potential applications, the system is validated in a microfluidic experiment integrated into an inverted microscope, where spectral changes induced by an absorbing dye are tracked with higher temporal fidelity and resolution compared with the frame-based approach. These results establish event-based spectroscopy as a promising paradigm for real-time, high-temporal-resolution spectral measurements in dynamic and low-light applications.

Abstract
Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration is a key biomarker for several diseases. Traditional laboratory methods often have limitations due to their time-consuming nature, the need for skilled personnel, or the use of high-cost instrumentation. This work presents a sensing strategy for developing new point-of-care tests (POCTs) for Hb detection via a proof of concept. The proposed sensing approach is implemented using plasmonic plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor chips that integrate an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer (eMIP) film on the plasmonic surface for Hb-selective detection. The developed sensor system demonstrates an ultra-low detection limit of 80 fM in buffer, about five orders of magnitude lower than that of other comparable Hb sensors. Selectivity tests against common interfering proteins, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), confirmed high specificity towards the target analyte. Moreover, the sensor's performance was tested using a whole-blood sample, yielding results consistent with those of standard haematology analysis. The proposed sensor system, based on simple equipment, provides a quick (about 10 min) and cost-effective (about 10 euros per chip) label-free diagnostic tool for POCTs in real-world scenarios, such as finger-prick sampling, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional laboratory methods, towards devices useful for Internet of Medical Things (IoMT).

Abstract
A superfluid flows without friction below a critical velocity, exhibiting zero drag force on impurities. Above this threshold, superfluidity breaks down, and the internal energy is redistributed into incoherent excitations such as vortices. We demonstrate that a mobile, finite-mass impurity immersed in a flowing two-dimensional paraxial superfluid of light can swim against the superfluid current when the critical velocity is exceeded. This self-propulsion is achieved by the periodic emission of vortex-antivortex pairs downstream, which impart an upstream recoil momentum that results in a net propulsive force. Analogous to biological systems that minimize effort by exploiting wake turbulence, the impurity harnesses this vortex backreaction as a passive mechanism of locomotion. Based on a simple theoretical model, we quantitatively describe how this mechanism depends on the impurity geometry and the surrounding flow velocity. Our findings establish a fundamental link between internal-energy dissipation in quantum fluids and concepts of self-propulsion in active-matter systems and open new possibilities for exploiting quantum vortices for controlled transport at the microscale.

Abstract
An all-passive, multipoint, and multiparameter optical monitoring system was developed and deployed in an industrial environment for the simultaneous measurement of methane concentration and other physical parameters. Methane is detected via rapid wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) at 1648.2 nm and 4 MHz frequency. An attenuation invariant quantity defined by the peaks at 0, 4, and 8 MHz of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of temporal signal is employed, characterized, and validated. Other parameters can concomitantly be measured by fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors operating in the 1520-1590 nm range. In the deployed system, the tested parameter was the temperature, which is an important quantity for gas monitoring. The system features a modular architecture that enables scalability up to 16 384 sensing points with an estimated less than 20-min acquisition cycle. In its current deployment, it monitors methane and temperature at eight locations using a single optical network. The system is intended to be used onshore and offshore platforms where the usual monitoring protocol consists of manual measurements usually performed three to four times a year and involves personal displacement and risky situations. Field tests at an onshore natural gas treatment unit (NGTU) demonstrated reliable performance and effective event detection, including undocumented nocturnal emissions, maneuvers at main shut-off valve, and partial plant shutdowns and restarts.

Abstract