Abstract
In this work the behavior of an optical fiber Long Period Grating (LPG) refractometer with the variations of the surrounding refractive index is discussed. The objective is to characterize optical fiber refractometers sensitive to surrounding refractive index, higher and lower than the cladding. For values of surrounding refractive index higher than the cladding, the LPG does not show enough sensitivity. For this reason, a nanolayer of an organic material was coated onto the fiber, using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. We characterized LPG covered with different nanolayers thickness (110 and 120 nm) relatively to changes in surrounding refractive index.

Abstract
We study the origin of antisymmetric perturbation of the fiber in are-induced long-period gratings that couple the core mode into the antisymmetric cladding modes. We demonstrate that this perturbation is caused by a temperature gradient in the fiber, which is induced, in turn, by a temperature gradient in the arc discharge.

Abstract
In this work an all optical hot-wire flowmeter based on a silver coated fibre incorporating a long period grating and a Bragg grating is demonstrated. Optical energy at 1480 nm propagating down the fibre is coupled by the long period grating into the fibre cladding and absorbed by the metallic coating deposited on the fibre surface over the Bragg grating position. This absorption acts like a hot-wire raising locally the fibre temperature, which is effectively detected by the FBG resonance shift. The temperature raise depends on the flow speed of the surrounding air that has the effect to cool the fibre. In this way, the FBG Bragg wavelength shift can be related with the flow speed. Results obtained demonstrate the working principle and a flow speed resolution of 0.08 m/s is demonstrated.

Abstract
In this work. the LPG-assisted fibre Michelson modal interferometer is studied as a sensing structure to environmental refractive index, temperature and liquid level when coherence addressing and heterodyne interrogation are considered. The effects on measurand sensitivity of the order of the cladding mode excited by the LPG, of the degree c etching of the sensing fibre and of the fibre type used are investigated.

Abstract
A fiber optic sensing system for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature, based on a hybrid fiber Bragg grating/long-period grating arrangement is described. The experimental results show that this setup has a good performance in terms of linearity and sensitivity, the ratiometric output changes 4%/0.001 RIU and 3.6%/degrees C, respectively. The sensor resolution for the refractive index is approximate to 2 x 10(-5) RIU. The simultaneous measurement of the refractive index and temperature was demonstrated. The sensing configuration has the ability to be read-out in reflection and works in the telecommunications window.

Abstract
A review of refractive index measurement based on different types of optical fiber sensor configurations and techniques is presented. It addresses the main developments in the area, with particular focus on results obtained at INESC Porto, Portugal. The optical fiber sensing structures studied include those based on Bragg and long period gratings, on micro-interferometers, on plasmonic effects in fibers and on multimode interference in a large spectrum of standard and microstructured optical fibers.