Abstract
In this paper three highly birefringent (HiBi) spun photonic crystal fibers (PCF) are fabricated and their performance are characterized for electrical current measurement. These fibers are tested by coiling them around an electric conductor using three distinct winding diameters with different turns. The results present a very good linear relation with the current and its sensitivity depends on the winding diameter and on the number of turns. For the larger winding diameter, the fiber with lower circular pitch had higher sensitivity and for the smaller winding diameter the best sensitivity result was for the fiber with higher circular pitch.

Abstract
A method to control the output intensity profile of optical fibers is presented. Using guided wave photo-polymerization in multimode structures the fabrication with modal assisted shaping of polymeric micro lenses is demonstrated. Results showing that a given linear polarized mode can be selectively excited controlling the intensity distribution at the fiber tip are presented. This pattern is then reproduced in the polymeric micro structure fabricated at the fiber tip thus modulating its output intensity distribution. Such structures can therefore be used to obtain at the fiber tip predetermined intensity patterns for attaining optical trapping or patterned illumination.

Abstract
In this work a fiber optic interferometric system for differential refractive index measurement is described. The system is based on a white light Mach-Zehnder configuration, with serrodyne phase modulation, used to interrogate two similar non-adiabatic tapered optical fiber sensors in a differential scheme. In this situation the system is able to measure the refractive index independent of temperature. Signal processing with low cost digital instrumentation developed in Labview environment allows a detectable change in refractive index of Delta n approximate to 1.46 x 10(-6), which is, from the best of our knowledge the highest resolution achieved using a bare fiber taper device for a range of refractive index close to the water index. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed scheme to operate as a self-referenced chemical and biological sensing platform.

Abstract
A Long Period Grating (LPG)-based platform for the detection of E. coli outer membranes proteins (EcOMPs) is presented. The sensing probe is achieved by the functionalization of a LPG inscribed in a single mode fiber (SMF28) with a DNA-aptamer resulting in a label-free configuration capable of specific recognize EcOMPs in waters. Measurement takes place by tracking the variations induced in the resonance wavelength by the refractive index changes at the fiber surface (approximate to 100 nm/RIU). The sensing head was characterized and tested against EcOMPs and applied to spiked environmental water samples. The sensor displayed logarithmic responses in the range of 0.1 nM to 10 nM EcOMPs and is regenerated (under low pH conditions) and the deviation of the subsequent detection was less than 0.1%.

Abstract
In this article, it is proposed an interrogation and multiplexing system based on optical time domain reflectometer for fiber loop mirror coupled intensity sensors. Pulse width of approximately 100 ns enabled to attain a dynamic range of approximately 18 dB. Good linearity was achieved with a -13.3 dB/mm slope. The resolution of the sensing head was 0.027 mm. The proposed interrogation system showed to be an alternative technique for multiplexing and remote sensing. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Abstract
The intensity profile of a focused beam of light can exert small drift forces on particles with a few microns and even smaller, which can be used to confine or manipulate them. Optical trapping has several applications, in particular it has been adopted as a powerful tool in biology, allowing, for instance to manipulate in vivo single cells. A wide variety of optical setups have been implemented to optically trap microscopic bodies, however, the single beam trap using a tightly focused Gaussian beam continues to be the most used. Recent developments introduced an alternative to bulk optical trapping systems based on lensed optical fibers. This work presents simulations showing new designs of fiber optic and 2D waveguide tweezers based on studies of the forces acting on dielectric particles immersed in media with a distinct refractive index, which take into account the refractive index and structure of the particles.