Abstract
Optical tweezers based on metallic-coated tapered optical fibers with an aperture at the apex are fabricated and their sensing ability is tested. Preliminary results show robustness in differentiating between a trapped and no trapped state. © 2021 The Author(s).

Abstract
A method based on multiple Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) and a structure fabricated using a 3D printer for diameter measurement is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor is easily developed inserting the FBG on the structure and fixing the FBG in two points. Due to this arrangement, when the diameter is reduced a force is applied on the sensor and this causes a wavelength shift. The study is divided in two steps using one experimental setup. At first, each FBG response is independently evaluated concerning the diameter variation and after that, the FBGs are evaluated together. The results demonstrated that the structure can be used as a way to monitor the diameter variation in some applications.

Abstract

Abstract
The use of graphene oxide-based coatings on optical fibers are investigated, aiming to tune the reflectivity of optical fiber surfaces for use in precision sensing devices. Graphene oxide (GO) layers are successfully deposited onto optical fiber ends, either in cleaved or hollow microspheres, by mounting combined bilayers of polyethylenimine (PEI) and GO layers using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique. The reflectivity of optical fibers coated with graphene oxide layers is investigated for the telecom region allowing to both monitor layer growth kinetics and cavity characterization. Tunable reflective surfaces are successfully attained in both cleaved optical fibers and hollow microsphere fiber-based sensors by simply coating them with PEI/GO layers through the LbL film technique.

Abstract
The use of optical sensors inside the needle can improve targeting precision and can bring real-time information about the location of the needle tip if necessary, since a needle bends through insertion into the tissue. Therefore, the precise location of the needle tip is so important in percutaneous treatments. In the current experiment, a fiber sensor based on a Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity is described to measure the needle curvature. The sensor is fabricated by producing an air bubble between two sections of multimode fiber. The needle with the sensor therein was attached at one end and deformed by the application of movements. The sensor presents a sensitivity of -0.152 dB/m(-1) to the curvature measurements, with a resolution of 0.089 m(-1). The sensory structure revealed to be stable, obtaining a cross-sensitivity to be 0.03 m(-1)/degrees C.

Abstract
The proposed technique demonstrates a fiber ring resonator interrogated by an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), for intensity sensing. By using this methodology, a cavity round trip time of 2.85 mu s was obtained. For a proof of concept, a long-period grating was inserted in the resonant cavity operating as a curvature sensing device. A novel signal processing approach was outlined, regarding to the logarithmic behavior of the OTDR. Through analyzing the experimental results, an increase in the measured sensitivities was obtained by increasing applied bending. With curvatures performed from 1.8 m(-1) to 4.5 m(-1), the sensitivity values ranged from 2.94 dB center dot km(-1) to 5.15 dB center dot km(-1). In its turn, the sensitivities obtained presented a linear behavior when studied as a function of the applied curvature, following a slope of 0.86x10(-3) dB. The advantages of applying this technique were also discussed, demonstrating two similar fiber rings multiplexed in a series of configurations.