Abstract
Optical waveguides were fabricated in alkaline earth boro-aluminosilicate glass, by femtosecond laser direct writing, with varying pulse energy and scan velocity. A spectral characterization, from 500 nm to 1700 nm, was made in order to determine their losses and understand its dependence on the processing parameters. Three major loss mechanisms were identified. At longer wavelengths, loss is mainly due to weak coupling. On the other hand, the behavior at shorter wavelengths is governed by propagation loss due to Rayleigh scattering, which was shown to be practically eliminated (& x003C; 0.05 dB $\cdot$ cm $<^>{-1} {\cdot }\,\,\mu \text{m}<^>{4}$ ) at higher scan velocities. Bulk absorption was also found to have an influence in the propagation losses at higher wavelengths. The combination of intermediate pulse energies (between 125-250 nJ) and high scan velocities (above 6 cm/s) allowed the fabrication of optical waveguides offering low losses across the entire range of wavelengths tested, facilitating applications that require larger wavelength working bands. Furthermore, since optimal fabrication conditions are achieved at higher scanning velocities, mass production with reduced fabrication times can be achieved.

Abstract
This article presents a review of the numerical techniques employed in simulating plasmonic optical sensors based on metal-dielectric nanostructures, including examples, ranging from conventional D-type fiber sensors, to those based on photonic crystal D-type fibers and incorporating metamaterials, nanowires, among other new materials and components, results and applications. We start from the fundamental physical processes, such as optical and plasmonic mode coupling, and discuss the implementation of the numerical model, optical response customization and their impact in sensor performance. Finally, we examine future perspectives.

Abstract
We consider broadband radiation interacting with a gas of self-gravitating dust grains. We show that photon-bubble formation can occur, due to a modified Jeans instability, which will imply the formation of two different kinds of dust density perturbations. This could be useful for understanding the B-mode signal observed in the CMB polarization survey, and other astrophysical processes, such as the formation of protoplanets and voids in dust clouds.

Abstract
The interaction of light with matter in near-to-resonant conditions opens a path for the exploration of nontrivial optical response that can play an important role in future photonics-driven technology. But as the attention shifts towards many-level atomic systems and involving multi-dimensional experimental scenarios, the complexity of the physical systems makes the analytical approach to the semiclassical model of the MaxwellBloch equations impossible without any strongly-limiting approximations. In this context, robust and highperformance computational tools are mandatory. In this work, we describe the development and implementation of a cross-platform Maxwell-Bloch numerical solver that is capable to exploit the different hardware available to tackle efficiently the problems under consideration. Moreover, it is demonstrated that this simulation tool can address a vast class of problems with considerable reduction of simulation time, featuring speedups up to 30 when running in massive parallel GPUs compared with the same codes running on a CPU, showing its potential towards addressing a large class of modern problems in photonics.

Abstract
Solitons are localized wave solutions that appear in nonlinear systems when self-focusing effects balance the usual pulse dispersion of common optical media. Their stability and particle-like behavior make them ideal candidates for applications that range from communication to optical computing, but in real world physical systems, dissipative processes makes these otherwise stable solutions unstable, and true solitons are particularly hard to observe in systems featuring non-negligible dissipation. In these cases a special type of localized stable solutions, called dissipative solitons, are still possible to obtain, if in addition to a balance between diffraction and nonlinearity, an equilibrium between gain and loss is also present. In this work we discuss theoretically how a 4-level atomic system and an incoherent pumping process can be an ideal experimental testbed for studying this interesting class of solutions, featuring tunable optical properties and controllable gain/loss dynamics that allow to study both classes of temporal and spatial dissipative optical solitons.

Abstract
As quantum-driven processes and properties start to shape the future of technology, quantum simulations appear as a crucial piece of the puzzle, acting both as building blocks and catalysts for the improvement of the understanding of unique quantum features. In essence, they can be understood as a class of prototype experiments that allow a study of quantum properties in a controllable environment. In this context, quantum fluids of light are one of the strongest candidates for this role as coherent behavior is easily accessible and not hidden by detrimental thermal noise usually present in more common quantum systems. In this work we explore the underlying theory of quantum fluids of light in propagating geometries through the hydrodynamic interpretation of light, where photons behave as interacting particles in the presence of a nonlinear medium. Exploiting the highly controllable optical properties of atomic systems and their enhanced nonlinear properties related to quantum coherence phenomena, we discuss how they can be used to set a tunable platform for quantum simulations. As examples, we demonstrate a series of quantum features of this light fluid in the form of superfluidic-like behaviors, ranging from the more common and experimentally confirmed suppressed scattering, drag-force cancellation and Bogoliubov-like dispersion relation for the elementary excitations, to other interesting phenomena yet to be explored, such as the case of persistent currents.