Abstract
Easily accessible through tabletop experiments, paraxial fluids of light are emerging as promising platforms for the simulation and exploration of quantumlike phenomena. In particular, the analogy builds on a formal equivalence between the governing model for a Bose-Einstein condensate under the mean-field approximation and the model of laser propagation inside nonlinear optical media under the paraxial approximation. Yet, the fact that the role of time is played by the propagation distance in the analog system imposes strong bounds on the range of accessible phenomena due to the limited length of the nonlinear medium. In this Letter, we present an experimental approach to solve this limitation in the form of a digital feedback loop, which consists of the reconstruction of the optical states at the end of the system followed by their subsequent reinjection exploiting wavefront shaping techniques. The results enclosed demonstrate the potential of this approach to access unprecedented dynamics, paving the way for the observation of novel phenomena in these systems.

Abstract
Exploring optical analogues with paraxial fluids of light has been a subject of great interest over the past years. Despite many optical analogues having been created and explored with these systems, they have some limitations that usually hinder the observation of the desired dynamics. Since these systems map the effective time onto the propagation direction, the fixed size of the nonlinear media limits the experimental effective time, and only the output state is accessible. In this work, we present a solution to overcome these problems in the form of an optical feedback loop, which consists of reconstructing the output state, by using the off-axis digital holography technique, and then re-injecting it again at the entrance of the medium through the utilization of Spatial Light Modulators. This technique enables access to intermediate states and an extension of the system effective time. Furthermore, the total control of the amplitude and phase of the beam at the input of the medium, also allows us to explore more exotic configurations that may be interesting in the context of optical analogues, that otherwise would be hard to create. To demonstrate the capabilities of the setup, we explore qualitatively some case studies, such as the dark soliton decay into vortices with the propagation of shock waves, and the collision dynamics between three flat-top states. The results presented in this work pave the way for probing new dynamics with paraxial fluids of light.

Abstract

Abstract
Structural health monitoring (SHM) of reinforced concrete structures (RCS) is crucial for mitigating the consequences of their deterioration. By identifying and addressing the issues early, SHM helps reduce environmental impact, safeguard lives, and enhance economic resilience. Rebar corrosion is a leading cause of early RCS decay and optical fibre sensors (OFS) have been employed for its monitoring. Reflection optrodes using optical fibres where the tip is coated with iron (Fe) thin films offer a robust, long-lasting and straightforward solution. This study investigates the tracking of spectral changes during the Fe thin film corrosion, which has been neglected in the literature, in favour of tracking reflection changes from thin film spalling. A multimode fibre tip, coated with a thin Fe layer embedded in concrete, allows spectral changes to be observed during corrosion. A 100 nm thick Fe film was deposited using radio frequency magnetron sputtering on polished fibre tips. Corrosion was induced by applying salted water drops and allowing the fibre tip to dry. Corrosion monitoring was successful for both air-exposed and cement-embedded tips, with results compared to reflection simulations of Fe, Fe2O3, and Fe2O3 thin films. This study supports monitoring at different wavelengths, enhancing robustness, cost-effectiveness and earlier detection. © The Authors.

Abstract
Due to the exponential increase in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, new sustainable energy sources have emerged, and hydrogen (H2) is one of them. Despite all the advantages, H2 has high flammability, so constant monitoring is essential. Two optical techniques were numerically studied and compared with the goal of H2 sensing: surface plasmon polaritons (SPP) and Tamm plasmon polaritons (TPP). The H2-sensitive material used was palladium (Pd) in both techniques. The SPP structure was found to have more sensitivity to H2 than TPP, 23 and 5nm/4vol% H2, respectively. However, the latter has lower FWHM, with the minimum of the band showing reflectivity near 0%. In addition, TPP also uses more cost-effective materials and can be interrogated at normal incidence with depolarized light. The potential of using each of these optical techniques for H2 sensing was demonstrated. © The Authors.

Abstract
Ethanol plays a crucial role in modern industrial processes and consumer products. Despite its presence in human activity, short and long-term exposure to gaseous ethanol poses risks to health conditions and material damage, making the control of its concentration in the atmosphere of high importance. Ethanol optical sensors based on electromagnetic surface waves (ESWs) are presented, with sensitivity to ethanol vapours being achieved by the inclusion of ethanol-adsorptive zinc oxide (ZnO) layers. The changes in optical properties modulate the resonant conditions of ESWs, enabling the tracking of ethanol concentration in the atmosphere. A comprehensive comparative study of sensor performance is carried out between surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and Bloch surface wave (BSW) based sensors. Sensor efficiency is simulated by transfer matrix method towards optimized figures of merit (FoM). Preliminary results validate ethanol sensitivity of BSW based sensor, showcasing a possible alternative to electromagnetic and plasmonic sensors. © The Authors.