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.

Abstract
In the field of aqueous environment studies, long-period fiber gratings are very attractive for the real-time monitoring of physical parameters, such as temperature and salinity. However, due to the fiber jacket removal, these are fragile devices when applied in real conditions, where mechanical loads and contamination with algae and other organic materials must be taken into account. This work describes a refractive index sensing head that has been developed and characterized for in situ measurement of water salinity and resistance to hard conditions.

Abstract
In this work we describe the characterization of high Q optical microresonators using an all fiber based system. Silica microspheres fabricated on a fiber tip by electric arc discharge are characterized using a simple interrogation system based on an adiabatic fiber taper coupler and on the collection of scattered radiation by a multimode fiber.

Abstract
Theoretical and experimental results were presented which validated a new dual interferometric configuration with serrodyne processing for the remote sensing of electrical current. Linearity and waveform reproduction at 50 Hz were observed and a current resolution (˜22.4 ArmsHz- 1/2) was obtained. The utilization of the proposed interferometric concept to simultaneously perform metering and relaying current measurements was also addressed. © 2002 IEEE.

Abstract
The use of semiconductor nano-particles as temperature probes in luminescence chemical sensing applications is addressed. Temperature changes the intensity, the peak wavelength and the spectral width of the quantum dots luminescent emission in a linear and reversible way. Results are presented that show the feasibility of implementing a self-referenced intensity based sensor to perform temperature measurements independent of the optical power level in the sensing system. Additionally, it is demonstrated that self-referenced temperature measurements in multiple points could be performed using reflection or transmission based optical fiber configurations.