Abstract
A strain gauge sensor based on Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) for diameter measurement is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor is easily fabricated inserting the FBG on the strain gauge-it was fabricated using a 3D printer-and fixing the FBG in two points of this structure. The idea is to vary the diameter of the structure. We developed two experimental setups, the first one is used to evaluate the response of the FBG to strain and the second one to assess the possibility of using the structure developed to monitor the desired parameter. The results demonstrated that the structure can be used as a way to monitor the diameter variation in some applications. The sensor presented a sensitivity of 0.5361 nm/mm and a good linear response of 0.9976 using the Strain Gauge with FBG and fused taper.

Abstract
In this work, we reviewed the most important achievements of INESC TEC related to the fabrication of long-period fiber gratings using the electric arc technique. We focused on the fabrication setup, the type of fiber used, and the effect of the fabrication parameters on the gratings' transmission spectra. The theory was presented, as well as a discussion on the mechanisms responsible for the formation of the gratings, supported by the measurement of the temperature reached by the fiber during an electric arc discharge.

Abstract
In this work, we review the most important achievements of INESC TEC related to the properties and applications of arc-induced long-period fiber gratings. The polarization dependence loss, the spectral behavior at temperatures ranging from cryogenic up to 1200 degrees C and under exposure to ultraviolet and gamma radiation is described. The dependence of gratings sensitivity on the fabrication parameters is discussed. Several applications in optical communications and sensing domains are referred.

Abstract
In this paper, we investigate modification of transmission spectra of long-period fiber grating structures with an acoustic shock front propagating along the fiber. We simulate transmission through inhomogeneous long-period fiber gratings, pi-shift and reflective pi-shift gratings deformed by an acoustic shock front. Coupled mode equations describing interaction of co-propagating modes in a long-period fiber grating structures with inhomogeneous deformation are used for the simulation. Two types of apodization are considered for the grating modulation amplitude, such as uniform and raised-cosine. We demonstrate how the transmission spectrum is produced by interference between the core and cladding modes coupled at several parts of the gratings having different periods. For the pi-shift long-period fiber grating having split spectral notch, the gap between the two dips becomes several times wider in the grating with the acoustic wave front than the gap in the unstrained grating. The behavior of reflective long-period fiber gratings depends on the magnitude of the phase shift near the reflective surface: an additional dip is formed in the 0-shift grating and the short-wavelength dip disappears in the pi-shift grating.

Abstract
In this work, we review the most important achievements of an INESC TEC long-period-grating-based fiber optic Michelson and Mach-Zehnder configuration modal interferometer with coherence addressing and heterodyne interrogation as a sensing structure for measuring environmental refractive index and temperature. The theory for Long Period Grating (LPG) interferometers and coherence addressing and heterodyne interrogation is presented. To increase the sensitivity to external refractive index and temperature, several LPG interferometers parameters are studied, including order of cladding mode, a reduction of the fiber diameter, different type of fiber, cavity length and the antisymmetric nature of cladding modes.

Abstract
Cylindrical structure analysis is important in several areas and can be performed through the evaluation of the diameter changes of these structures. Two important areas can be mentioned: pipelines for oil or gas distribution and the condition and growth of trees. In the tree diameter changes, monitoring is directly related to irrigation, since it depends on the water soil deficit and trees are important in the global circulation of heat and water. This diameter can change in the order of 5 mm for some species. In this paper, a strain gauge sensor based on a core diameter mismatch technique for diameter measurement is proposed and investigated. The sensor structure is formed by splicing an uncoated short section of MMF (Multimode Fiber) between two standard SMFs (Singlemode Fiber) called SMF–MMF–SMF (SMS); the MMF length is 15 mm. Two cylindrical structures were placed on a 3D printer, with different diameter sizes ((Formula presented.) : 80 mm and 110 mm), to assist in monitoring the diameter changes. The SMS sensor was placed on the printed structure and fixed at two points, such that, by reducing the diameter of the structure, the sensor presents dips or peaks shift of the transmittance spectrum due to the induced curvature and strain. Three values were used for the spacing between the fixation points ((Formula presented.)): (a) 5 mm, (b) 10 mm, and (c) 15 mm. For each choice of fixation points, (Formula presented.) = 80 mm: (a) a sensitivity of -0.876 nm/mm, (Formula presented.) of 0.9909 and a dynamic range of 5 mm; (b) a sensitivity of -0.3892 nm/mm, (Formula presented.) of 0.9954 and a dynamic range of 4 mm; and (c) a sensitivity of -0.768 nm/mm, (Formula presented.) of 0.9811 and a dynamic range of 2 mm. For (Formula presented.) = 110 mm, the sensor presents for each choice of fixation points: (a) a sensitivity of -0.22 nm/mm, (Formula presented.) of 0.9979 and a dynamic range of 8 mm; (b) a sensitivity of -0.2284 nm/mm, (Formula presented.) of 0.9888 and a dynamic range of 6 mm; and (c) a sensitivity of -0.691 nm/mm, (Formula presented.) of 0.9892 and a dynamic range of 3.5 mm. © 2021 by the authors.