Abstract
The precise production of 4.5 µm off-axis first order FBG in an SMF-28e fiber through femtosecond laser direct writing is demonstrated. The off-axis FBG potential as sensing head for torsion sensing was successfully explored. © 2021 The Author(s).

Abstract
Optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometers were fabricated by combining two TiO2 coated LPFGs fabricated through femtosecond laser direct writing. Results of its refractometric characterization are presented and compared with the single LPFGs sensors. Wavelength sensitivity of 1175 nm/RIU at 1.38 and spectral resolution of 2.2×10-5 were achieved. © 2021 The Author(s).

Abstract
Long Period Fibre Gratings (LPFGs) were fabricated by femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing in a standard single-mode fibre (SMF-28e) to measure variations in the surrounding refractive index (SRI). The sensing sensitivity of these structures was optimized with the deposition of homogeneous thin layers of titanium dioxide (TiO2) by physical vapour deposition (PVD) process. A set of LPFGs were coated with different thickness layers of TiO2, and the spectral features were monitored for different SRI solutions. The wavelength shift and the optical power variation of the LPFG minimum attenuation band were measured achieving sensitivities of similar to 570 nm/RIU at using SRI near to 1.3600 in the case of the LPFG coated with 60 nm of TiO2, a 10-fold increase over the corresponding for a bare LPFG. For SRI values higher than the cladding refractive index, a sensitivity over similar to 3000 nm/RIU was determined for 30 nm of TiO2 thick film, a region where the bare LPFGs are useless. For 30 nm of TiO2, the optical power variation follows a quasi-linear function of the SRI, with a range of similar to 10 dB. Moreover, values as high as 50 and 120 dB/RIU at 1.3200 and 1.4200, respectively, can be obtained by choosing the proper film thickness. Preliminary studies revealed that coating fs-laser direct writing LPFGs with titanium dioxide improves their performance.

Abstract
Achieving a new generation of enhanced sensors requires the development of structures that result from the fusion of different concepts and effects. In this paper, we combine a special strain sensing structure with an optical sensitivity magnification, through harmonics of the Vernier effect. The recently demonstrated harmonics of the Vernier effect result from increasing the optical path length (OPL) of one of two interferometers by multiple times the OPL of the other interferometer. The effect generates higher magnification factors, proportional to the order of the harmonics. The sensing structure is demonstrated for strain and temperature discrimination, allowing compensation for temperature fluctuations. We explore the complex case of the optical Vernier effect in series, where both interferometers are used as sensing interferometers (no reference interferometer is used). Our results also suggest that the magnification enhancement provided by harmonics of the Vernier effect for a configuration in series is the same as for a configuration in parallel: the magnification factor increases proportionally to the order of the harmonics.

Abstract
Biogenic amines, such as putrescine are potential indicators of food storage condition and deterioration. The real time measurement of their concentration in food may become an important method of food control. It was found that putrescine diffuses through a thin layer made from a solution of Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVA) and maleic anhydride. Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) is a common non-chlorinated vinyl capable to adsorb specific analytes as putrescine which upon diffusion, reversibly binds to the maleic anhydride causing the polymer swelling resulting in spectral changes from the optical point of view. Long Period Fiber Gratings coated with 30 nm titanium dioxide, a high refractive index material used to increase the intrinsic sensitivity to the external refractive index, were overcoated with a thin layer of maleic anhydride doped Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate). When exposed to solutions containing small concentrations of putrescine the resonant band corresponding to the LP1,6 cladding mode was found to move to shorter wavelengths. The observed blue shift corresponds to the increasing concentration of putrescine in the fiber sensor structure. Further work is being carried out to improve the sensitivity and the limit of detection of the sensing system as well as to increase range of operation, which is presently limited to 0.3 to 0.5 M.

Abstract
Power transformers have an imperative role in the future developments of the electrical grids. Treated as crucial assets for transportation and distribution of electrical energy, transformers are currently being studied regarding to the integration of technologies aiming to diagnose problems and monitoring data of electrical power grid. Furthermore, environmental noise pollution has gained importance, especially in active units of the power grid, located near consumers, such as transformers. Transformers noise can be classified according to its source: core, windings and cooling. This study addresses an experimental characterization of one of the main causes of transformers core noise-magnetostriction of electrical steel. An evaluation of magnetostriction properties of electrical steel, including resistive strain gauges and Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) measurements with an Epstein frame, are presented and discussed. The magnetic flux density influence on hysteretic strain behavior of magnetostriction was evaluated, as well as the effect of a clamping load on core joints. Nowadays, optical interrogators for Bragg gratings have a high acquisition frequencies and wavelength sensitivity when compared to former optical interrogation systems, allowing to evaluate physical phenomena without electromagnetic interference and with equivalent resolution of conventional strain gauges. © 2019 Cassiano C. Linhares et al.