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• We firstly propose a cascaded Kerr beam self-cleaning scheme that combines multiple MMFs to further improve multimode beam quality. • Radial offset between fiber 1 and fiber 2 of the cascaded multimode fiber system should be as small as possible for cascaded beam self-cleaning. • Our results also suggest that an increased number of HOMs with negligible energy along with a higher number of cascaded fibers contribute to superior multimode beam quality. Spatial beam self-cleaning has shown a nonlinear improvement in beam quality in multimode fibers (MMFs), proving its value in high-power fiber lasers and nonlinear biomedical imaging. In this Letter, we propose a novel cascaded Kerr beam self-cleaning scheme that combines multiple MMFs to further improve beam quality. Through this scheme, the initially speckled beam gradually evolves into a well-defined bell-shaped, primarily dominated by the fundamental mode, after undergoing two or three cascaded self-cleaning processes. Simulation results also suggest that an increased number of high-order modes (HOMs) with negligible energy along with a higher number of cascaded fibers contribute to superior beam quality. This phenomenon is attributed to the new excited HOMs acting as attractor and facilitating an energy cascade towards the fundamental mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A highly-sensitive pressure sensor with sensitivity of 80.8 pm/kPa. • Low temperature cross sensitivity of 2.2 kPa/°C. • Experimental results in good agreement with the "Two-beam" interference model. • Simple fabrication technique without fiber machining, and possible for mass production. We propose and demonstrate a simple highly-sensitive gas pressure sensor based on harmonic Vernier effect. By fusion splicing two hollow silica capillaries, a cascaded Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity is formed. Without special photonics crystal fibers or laser machining involved, the fabrication process is greatly simplified. The interplay between the two interferometers consisting the FP cavity leads to optical Vernier effect. By properly adjusting the length of the silica capillaries harmonic of optical Vernier effect is observed and can be served as a sensitive probe for diagnosing gas pressure. Our results showed a sensitivity of 80.8 pm/kPa from 1 to 101 kPa with good linearity of 99.7%, and a low temperature cross sensitivity of 2.22 kPa/°C, a factor of three lower than that of the microstructure fiber-based gas pressure sensors. Combining both ease of fabrication and high sensitivity, this sensor can be a good candidate for mass production in fields of gas sensing and environmental safety monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]