Abstract
This work describes the implementation of an optical fiber interferometric system for differential thermal analysis. The system is based on a white light Mach-Zehnder configuration, with serrodyne phase modulation, to interrogate two identical fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) in a differential scheme. Operation and signal processing with low cost digital instrumentation developed in Labview environment enabled FBG temperature measurement with a +/- 0.012 degrees C resolution nearly matching the performance of standard hardware. Preliminary results were obtained, where mixed samples of acetone and methanol could be successfully identified, indicating the suitability of the system for high accuracy differential thermal analysis using low cost instrumentation.

Abstract
A fiber optic FBG cladding modes based sensor, for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature is presented. The FBG cladding modes are efficiently excited by the large core misalignment. This technique enables the possibility to readout simultaneously in reflection the cladding mode (lambda(cl)) and the core mode (lambda(co)). lambda(cl), lambda(co) depend on strain and temperature and show different sensibilities for each parameter, enabling their discrimination. The experimental result shows a good performance in terms of linearity and sensitivity.

Abstract
An optical fibre sensor for determination of acetic acid is presented. The sensing probe is based on a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) Fabry-Perot cavity, coated with a thin film of sol-gel-PVP (polyVynil Pirrolidone) composite material. The polymeric thin film renders interferometric output sensitive to the presence of carboxylic acid species. Results show that the wavelength of the interferometric peaks change with acetic acid concentration, enabling its quantification. Coupling the fibre probe with a serrodyne modulated readout interferometer enables pseudo-heterodyne interrogation and the detection of acetic acid with a sensitivity of 1 deg/0.01% and a resolution of 0.2% v/v. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed scheme to operate as a sensitive chemical sensor platform. © 2009 SPIE.

Abstract
In this work it is presented a system to control a self-referencing fiber optic intensity displacement sensor using virtual instrumentation. To ensure higher flexibility and dynamic optimization, the use of an optical fiber delay line or an electrical delay line is avoided by implementing a delay line in the virtual domain, preserving the self-referencing and sensitivity characteristics of the proposed optical intensity sensing structure.

Abstract
A digital control system to interrogate optical fiber interferometric sensors is presented. The system was implemented using a DAQ board and LabView Software, it is based on white light interferometry, and can use four different synthetic heterodyne and pseudo-heterodyne signal detection schemes. The system was tested and compared with standard hardware instrumentation using a fiber optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer to readout strain sensitive Fabry-Perot sensors in a differential configuration. It is shown that the virtual instrumentation has a good performance being a viable alternative for use in compact portable sensing systems.

Abstract
An optical fibre sensor for simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature is presented. The refractive index measurement is based on the visibility variations of a Fabry- Perot interferometer with interfering waves generated in a low reflectivity Bragg grating inscribed on a Panda fibre and in the fibre tip (Fresnel reflection) in contact with the liquid. The temperature measurement is based on the wavelength shift of the FBG peaks. Results obtained show the feasibility of simultaneous measurement of refractive index and temperature and also the possibility of adjusting fringe visibility via polarization control.