Publications Calls for Papers

Photonics continues to drive transformative advances across science, engineering, and industry. Rapid progress in materials, device architectures, integrated platforms, computational methods, and system-level innovations is reshaping the landscape of modern photonics and enabling new capabilities across communications, sensing, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and energy applications. This Special Issue of the IEEE Photonics Journal aims to highlight emerging research directions and breakthrough developments that are defining the next generation of photonic technologies. The issue seeks high-quality original contributions spanning fundamental advances to system-level demonstrations, with an emphasis on innovation, scalability, and real-world impact. It draws inspiration from the broad technical themes represented at the IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), a premier international forum for advances across the full spectrum of photonics research. Authors of papers presented at IPC 2025 are encouraged to submit extended versions of their work. Original submissions aligned with the thematic focus of this Special Issue are equally welcome. All manuscripts must contain substantial new technical contributions beyond any previously published material.

Benefiting from the capabilities of ultra-long-distance, high-speed data transmission, optical fiber communication networks have become the foundation of the information society since the successful development of low-loss optical fibers in the 1970s. Recent studies have revealed that the ubiquitous optical fiber infrastructure can also function as a highly sensitive distributed sensor, capable of detecting external physical perturbations such as acoustic waves, vibrations, temperature changes, and pressure variations along the fiber. By sharing transmitters, receivers, transmission links, and digital signal processing units, both communication and sensing functionalities can be achieved, giving rise to the promising field of optical-fiber-based integrated sensing and communication (O-ISAC). This integration of sensing and communication through shared hardware and software offers significant benefits in cost and efficiency. O-ISAC not only promotes the development of self-intelligent networks—enabling autonomous fault diagnosis through inherent sensing capabilities—but also provides a novel solution for large-scale sensing applications such as urban structural imaging, ocean seismic monitoring, and underground pipeline surveillance. However, O-ISAC still faces significant challenges in both research and practical application: the mutual interference between sensing and communication functions is not fully understood; scaling these systems over long distances requires novel schemes to simultaneously enhance their key performance metrics; and a clear framework to reduce their cost and complexity is still needed. Meanwhile, data-driven machine learning and AI techniques have emerged as a promising trend.

We are pleased to announce that the IEEE Photonics Journal (PJ) invites submissions to a Special Issue highlighting advances across the wide landscape of photonics and optoelectronics, inspired by the latest developments presented at the 16th International Photonics and Optoelectronics Meeting (POEM 2025), held in Wuhan, China. Founded in 2008, POEM is a premier annual conference that brings together leading researchers and engineers to discuss breakthroughs in photonic science and technologies across fundamental, applied, and translational domains. The conference covers a wide range of topics that reflect the dynamic scope of modern photonics—many of which align closely with the Photonics Journal editorial vision. This Special Issue seeks to extend the scientific impact of POEM by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed papers that capture both the depth and breadth of current advances presented at the meeting and beyond.

These two special issues welcome authors to submit enhanced journal articles derived from exceptional papers presented at ACP 2025. Submitted manuscripts should include significant new contributions, such as additional experiments, novel theoretical insights, simulation work, or comprehensive analyses. Areas of focus cover, but are not restricted to: Special Issue 1: Optical Transmission Systems This issue will focus on advancements in high-speed and high-capacity optical communication: • High-capacity, high-speed optical communication systems • Coherent detection, advanced modulation formats, and digital signal processing algorithms • Optical transmission systems with advanced fiber and/or specialty fibers • Transmission system optimization, nonlinearity compensation, and monitoring techniques • Optical networking, switching, and routing for high-capacity networks • Future optical access networks including fixed and mobile applications Special Issue 2: Optoelectronic and Fiber-Based Devices This issue will cover the latest developments in components and integrated photonics: • High-speed optical sources (lasers, LEDs, VCSELs, comb) and photodetectors (PIN, APD, UTC-PD) • Optical modulators, optical amplifiers, high-speed transceivers, and optical sensors • Integrated photonic devices and photonic integration (SiPh, III–Vs, LNOI, HI etc.) • Optical fiber-based devices including fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, specialty fiber components, mode-locked fiber lasers, and fiber sensors etc. •Emerging technologies including VLC, free-space optical links, quantum photonics, neuromorphic photonics, and AI-enabled optical devices.