Abstract

Abstract
A Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity of simple design and based on a pure silica diaphragm-free hollow tube is proposed. Its operation is based on a first reflection of light at the end of the single-mode fiber that illuminates the silica rod and in a second reflection that takes place at the end of the rod. The FP cavity is characterized for high temperature, pressure and refractive index sensing, showing useful characteristics for the measurement of these three parameters. The diaphragm-free configuration simplifies the measurement of the refractive index of fluids. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America

Abstract
Palladium-based fiber-optic sensors have been one of the most promising configurations for hydrogen sensing. In the latest decade, fiber-optic sensors have indeed earned a strong interest owing to their ability to monitor molecular hydrogen at specific spatial points-either as a sensing tip device or in large areas via multiple sensing regions distributed along the optical fiber. This review focuses on the various types of optical fiber hydrogen sensors, containing specifically palladium as active element. Three distinct working principles are described, viz. interferometric-, intensity-, and fiber grating-based sensors; their characteristics and sensing performances are critically overviewed.

Abstract
In this Letter, a hybrid interferometer for simultaneous measurement of the partial pressures of O-2 and CO2 mixtures is reported. The sensing head consists in the combination of two interferometric structures, one a Fabry-Perrot cavity and the other a modal interferometer. The intrinsic Fabry-Perot was formed by splicing a single mode fiber with a graded index fiber length that was then subjected to chemical etching creating an air cavity. The second interferometer is based on a splice of a pure silica tube in series with the Fabry-Perot. It was observed for a particular gas that its refractive index changes with pressure variation in a specific way, a characteristic that permitted the simultaneous measurement of partial pressures of CO2 and O-2 with rms deviations of similar to +/- 48.7 kPa and similar to +/- 20.1 kPa, respectively. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Abstract
A concept of long-period-based optical fiber sensors, with broadband light illumination generated just after the sensing structure, is presented in this work. This new approach allows the interrogation in transmission of the sensing head while integrated in a reflective configuration, which means the long-period grating (LPG) sensor is seen in transmission by the optical source but in reflection by the measurement system. Also, it is shown that with this illumination layout the optical power balance is more favorable when compared with the standard configurations, allowing better sensor performances, particularly when the sensing head is located far away from the photodetection and processing unit. This is demonstrated for the case of the LPG structure applied to measure strain and using ratiometric interrogation based on the readout of the optical power reflected by two fiber Bragg gratings spectrally located in each side of the LPG resonance.

Abstract
The underground movement of water through soil and rock is an important phenomenon in Civil Engineering. Its study is made more appealing to students if small scale prototypes are used, where several layouts of soil and water in steady state/transient conditions can be studied in detail. A water tank prototype was built with a reflective optical fibre pressure sensor based on a GRIN lens and a mirror. The mirror is connected to an elastic membrane that is deformed when water pressure is applied and the lens is correctly aligned with the mirror and fixed. The distance between the mirror and the lens changes, so the reflective optical power changes as well and it is directly proportional to the water pressure inside the tank. The results obtained for water pressure up to 4 kPa for filling and emptying operations show that the sensor has a linear response for pressure changes between 1.7 kPa and 3.4 kPa with a slope of 181 mu W/kPa for filling and 191 mu W/kPa for emptying. It is also observed some hysteresis that may possibly be reduced by choosing another material for the membrane. Using this type of sensor head it is possible to monitor different pressure points in the small scale prototype using the standard OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) equipment.