Abstract
In this paper, a different Fiber Loop Mirror (FLM) configuration with two circulators is presented. This configuration is demonstrated and characterized for sensing applications. This new design concept was used for strain and torsion discrimination. For strain measurement, the interference fringe displacement has a sensitivity of (0.576 +/- 0.009) pm.mu epsilon(-1). When the FFT (Fast Fourier Transformer) is calculated and the frequency shift and signal amplitude are monitored, the sensitivities are (-2.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-4) nm(-1) mu epsilon(-1) and (4.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(-7) mu epsilon(-1), respectively. For the characterization in torsion, an FFT peaks variation of (-2.177 +/- 0.002) x 10(-12) nm(-1)/degrees and an amplitude variation of (1.02 +/- 0.06) x 10(-3)/degrees are achieved. This configuration allows the use of a wide range of fiber lengths and with different refractive indices for controlling the free spectral range (FSR) and achieving refractive index differences, i.e., birefringence, higher than 10(-2), which is essential for the development of high sensitivity physical parameter sensors, such as operating on the Vernier effect. Furthermore, this FLM configuration allows the system to be balanced, which is not possible with traditional FLMs.

Abstract
A linear fiber laser system for measurements of paracetamol concentration is experimentally demonstrated. The cavity is based on a fiber loop mirror and an FBG centered at 1567.8 nm. The sensing head corresponds to a refractometric sensor, whose which principle of operation is based on Fresnel reflection in the fiber tip (FBG side). The system works at detected variations of paracetamol concentrations with a sensitivity of [(8.74 +/- 0.34) x10(-5)] mu W/(g/kg) and a resolution of 2.77 g/kg. The results prove that the fiber laser system could be an asset for processing industries, specifically for non-invasive and real-time measurements of concentration.

Abstract
Using surface resonance (SPR) as a sensitivity enhancer, this work describes the development of a transmissive multimode optical fiber sensor with a gold (Au) thin film that measures glucose concentration. The fiber's cladding was initially removed, and an Au layer was then sputtered onto its surface to simultaneously excite SPR and reflect light, making the SPR sensor extremely sensitive to changes in the environment's refractive index. A range of glucose concentrations, from 0.0001 to 0.5000 g/ml, were tested on the sensor. A maximum sensitivity of 161.302 nm/(g/mL) was attained for the lowest glucose concentration, while the highest concentration yielded a sensitivity of 312.000 nm/(g/mL). The proposed sensor's compact size, high sensitivity, good stability and practicality make it a promising candidate for a range of applications, including detecting diabetes.

Abstract
A paracetamol concentration-sensing scheme based on a linear cavity fiber laser configuration is demonstrated experimentally. The laser cavity has a fiber sensor at one end, that allows refractive index measurements. The refractometer consists of a cleaved fiber tip combined with an FBG functioning as a reflecting mirror. The combination of a fiber loop mirror at the other end allows to reflect all the light from the FBG and refractometer, forming a linear cavity. By measuring the intensity variation of the Fresnel reflection at the fiber-to-liquid interface, the measured concentration is linear and have a concentration sensitivity of [( - 8.74 & PLUSMN; 0.34) x 10-5 ] & mu;W/(g/kg), over a range of 52.61 to 219.25 g/kg, and with a resolution of 2.77 g/kg. The results obtained present high stability and prove the potential of the fiber laser system to performed realtime measurements of concentration, in a non-invasive way.

Abstract
In this letter, a new configuration based on two fiber loop mirrors in series using a 3x3 coupler is demonstrated. This configuration is compact and can explore the Vernier effect. The results obtained were a sensitivity of 74.9 +/- 0.2 pm/ mu epsilon for the Vernier envelope and 6.41 +/- 0.01 pm/mu epsilon for the Vernier carrier. These results were compared to the sensitivity of the setup using only one fiber loop mirror interferometer, obtaining 14.41 +/- 0.01 pm/mu epsilon. This means a magnification factor of 5.2 for the Vernier envelope. Theoretical treatment of the system was carried out, using Jones matrix calculus, and the subsequent simulation results are also presented, having obtained good agreement with the experimental data.

Abstract
The refractometric analysis of ethanol-water mixtures is hampered because this type of binary solution does not present a linear behavior. In this letter, a multimode graded-index fiber (GIF) tip sensor for the measurement of ethanol in binary liquid solutions of ethanol-water is proposed. The proof is fabricated by the fusion-splicing of a 500 mu m GIF to a single-mode fiber (SMF), and it operates as a refractometric sensor in reflection. To evaluate the prove potential to detected ethanol variations, samples of ethanol-water mixtures were measured at different temperatures (20 degrees C-60 degrees C). The samples have different %(v/v) of ethanol, in a range between 0% and 100%.