Relaunched for 2015

Serving the optics and photonics communitywith high-impact research and fast publication for more than 100 years

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Editorial Board

Topical Editors

Nanophotonics and plasmonicsHerman Offerhaus, University of Twente, the NetherlandsZubin Jacob, University of Alberta, Canada

Metamaterials and structured photonic materialsAugustine Urbas, United States Air ForceHongsheng Chen, Zhejiang University, People’s Republic of China

Quantum photonicsNick Vamivakas, University of Rochester, USAAlexander Sergienko, Boston University, USA

BiophotonicsAaron H P Ho, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

Light–matter interactionsBoris Luk’yanchuk, Data Storage Institute, SingaporeJohn T Sheridan, University College Dublin, Ireland

Nonlinear and ultrafast opticsCaterina Vozzi, Politecnico di Milano, ItalyGaetano Assanto, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, Italy

Propagation, diffraction and scatteringHalina Rubinsztein-Dunlop, University of Queensland, AustraliaSvetlana Boriskina, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Information and communication opticsUriel Levy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Integrated photonicsJingjun Xu, Nankai University, People’s Republic of China

Photovoltaics and energy harvestingBarry P Rand, Princeton University, USA

Editorial BoardCaterina Ciminelli, Politecnico di Bari, Italy Mark Dennis, University of Bristol, UK Rainer Dumke, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Andrew Forbes, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa Olga Korotkova, University of Miami, USA Jingquan Lin, Changchun University of Science and Technology, People’s Republic of China Natalia Litchinitser, University of Buffalo, USA

Min Qiu, Zhejiang University, People’s Republic of China Aleksander Rebane, Montana State University, USA Ekaterina Shamonina, University of Oxford, UK Mark Tame, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Hong Wei, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People’s Republic of China Tiancai Zhang, Shanxi University, People’s Republic of China

Editor-in-Chief Nikolay I Zheludev University of Southampton, UK, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

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Welcome to Journal of Optics

Serving the community, Journal of Optics (JOPT) has long been known for publishing advanced experimental and theoretical research across all areas of optics and photonics.

With a dedicated board of prestigious scientists, led by Editor-in-Chief Professor Nikolay Zheludev, JOPT is proud to publish high-quality and high-impact research on modern and classical optics. Together with fi rst-rate papers and Fast Track Communications, our programme of special issues highlights timely developments in optics. Concurrently, review articles from invited authors provide expert insights into emerging areas of research, regularly attracting upwards of 2000 downloads each.

At JOPT, we are pleased to provide our authors with a friendly and fast service. On average, a fi rst decision on an article is reached within 35 days, with immediate online publication when your article is ready. JOPT also implements a fl exible author-choice, open access policy.

By offering additional publicity to outstanding articles in the form of LabTalks, Highlights and “Paper of the Week”, we do all we can to ensure that your paper reaches its audience. Our expertise and commitment to the optics community makes JOPT a leader in its fi eld, and a premier choice for authors and readers alike.

Dr Jarlath McKennaPublisher, Journal of Optics

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Nanophotonics and plasmonics

Propagation, diffraction and scattering

Metamaterials and structured photonic materials

Quantum photonics (launched in 2015)

Biophotonics

Light–matter interactions

Nonlinear and ultrafast optics

Aims and scopeThe broad scope of JOPT has been designed to bring together new experimental and theoretical research across all areas of pure and applied optics. Research areas are categorised as:

Covers important developments in nanoscale optics and plasmonic phenomena. It includes topics ranging from nano-optomechanics to nanoscale waveguiding, and plasmonic sensing to extraordinary transmission of light through subwavelength holes.

Captures a diverse range of research that includes optical interferences, phase and polarisation optics, the propagation of beams in turbulent and random media, beam shaping and wavefront control, optical singularities and vortices, diffractive optics and gratings, beam shifts, optical scattering, accelerating light beams and much more.

Embraces a broad range of research in this relatively new field including topics such as transformation optics, metasurfaces, developments in the various types of metamaterials and their nanofabrication, and photonics crystals and quasicrystals.

Explores the advances in technology for quantum optics. It encompasses topics such as quantum technologies for information, communication, entanglement and computation, hybrid quantum systems, solid-state quantum devices, integrated quantum photonics, and areas such as quantum sensing, metrology and cryptography.

Covers important research in the life sciences such as the development of optical techniques to study biological molecules, cells and tissue, advanced optical imaging, microscopy and tomography methods, biomedical optics and biosensing, optical tweezing for biomedicine, and neurophotonics.

Covers a broad class of research envisioned to cover topics that include, for example, material processing with light and laser microfabrication, optical holography, photorefractive phenomenon, photolithography, laser ablation and strong-field phenomenon.

Broadly incorporates areas including research into nonlinear media and processes such as four-wave mixing and wavelength/frequency conversion, advances in harmonic and supercontinuum generation, the production and characterisation of ultrashort pulses and key topics like optical metrology and frequency combs.

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Information and communication optics

Integrated photonics

Photovoltaics and energy harvesting (launched in 2015)

Research papers Articles of unlimited length that report new research of outstanding quality and that make a significant advance in terms of the fundamental science or application of optics.

Fast Track Communications Short, high-impact research articles that report an urgent breakthrough development on any aspect of optics (typical length ~5000 words).

Topical Reviews and tutorials Invited review articles providing a snapshot of recent progress in a particular field. Tutorials are of a pedagogical nature designed to guide newcomers into rapidly developing subjects where a comprehensive review is not yet possible.

Roadmaps Invited articles presenting the individual visions of leading experts on the status, emerging technologies, and the current and future challenges facing a particular field.

Article types in JOPT

Covers the state-of-the-art in fibre optics and waveguiding, as well as optical information, processing and computing, image processing and pattern recognition, optical encryption and security, optical data storage, holographic information systems, optical networks and space, atmospheric and ocean optics.

Publishes research into the design, technology and applications of integrated photonic devices, circuits, and waveguides. It covers topics such as on-chip active and passive photonic devices, planar waveguide technology, lightwave circuits and systems-on-the chip, silicon-based devices and emerging material platforms, optical interconnects, switching and storage, and integrated quantum circuits.

Addresses the environmental demand for new research into green photonics and photon management. It covers solar-energy conversion systems and solar cells, a diverse range of photovoltaics (e.g. fibre optic, organic, thin-film, perovskite, hybrid, magnetic, dye-synthesised and quantum), as well as solar concentrator technology and light absorbers.

JOPT has a long record of being a quality vehicle for peer-reviewed dissemination of important research results in optics and photonics. Indeed, the impact factor of the journal has now exceeded 2.0 and the number of papers submitted to the journal since 2011 has grown by more than a third, in spite of the ferocious international competition. We are determined to build on our successes in recent years, and we will continue providing a fair and highly desirable platform for quality publications in optics and photonics.Nikolay Zheludev, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Optics

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Why publish with JOPT?The key priority for JOPT is to ensure editorial standards of the very highest quality, aiming for rapid publication in a competitive environment without compromising on the rigour and consistency of the review process.

Professional handling Our team of professional editors will handle your article efficiently and fairly, and are supported by a dedicated Editorial Board of leading researchers from the optics community.

Fast publication We are strongly committed to reviewing your article without delay – and the timeliest research qualifies for accelerated review with our Fast Track Communication (FTC) programme.

High visibility The journal is regularly read by researchers at more than 2800 institutions around the world.

High quality Publish your article in the company of other high-quality research, including IOPselect articles, special issues, Fast Track Communications and Topical Reviews.

Online functionality Include supplementary features relevant to your work; including movies, animations, sound files and colour, online at no extra charge.

Post-publication services Article-level promotion through Highlights, LabTalks, “Paper of the Week” and IOPselect/featured articles.

Open access publishing options Choose to make individual articles available on a gold or green open access basis.

Society publisher Publishied by IOP Publishing in association with the European Optical Society. IOP Publishing is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to science communication. It is an integral part of the Institute of Physics and any surplus goes to support science through their activities. Visit www.iop.org.

Author benefits

How to submitTo submit an article, simply upload a PDF at iopscience.org/jopt/submit, where guidelines for authors are also available. We accept any article template.

Contact jopt@iop.org if you have any queries or would like further information.

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Author recognition Once published, we make every effort to publicise articles to the broad optics and photonics community to enhance their visibility and give recognition to authors. Here are just a few ways that we promote your research.

LabTalkOnline news stories that allow you to meet the people behind the research article and get their perspective on their work.

Exploring harmonic nanoparticles Andrii Rogov, Yannick Mugnier and Luigi Bonacina

iopscience.org/labtalk/Exploring-harmonic-nanoparticles

IOPselectArticles of stand-out quality are included in this prestigious IOP collection. All IOPselect articles are available free to access for a year following publication.

Implementation of a spatial light modulator for intracavity beam shaping L Burger, I Litvin, S Ngcobo and A Forbes, 2015 J. Opt. 17 015604

Annual HighlightsOur annual Highlights articles are chosen by Editors based on referee endorsement, novelty, scientific impact and broadness of appeal.

Optical singularities in plasmonic fields near single subwavelength holes A de Hoogh, N Rotenberg and L Kuipers, 2014 J. Opt. 16 114004

Paper of the Week Featuring a newly published article weekly on iopscience.org/jopt.

EPN Highlights Articles of exceptional quality are highlighted in Europhysics News magazine.

Press releases Announcing newsworthy research with a broad interest and public appeal.

Conferences Publicising the journals research at major international meetings.

Table of contents alerts Putting the latest research into the hands of our readers.

And that’s not all...

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ForthcomingSurface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) Guest Editors: Ramón A Alvarez-Puebla, Xing Yi Ling, Patrizio Candeloro and Marc Lamy de la Chapelle

Optical parametric processes Guest Editors: Caterina Vozzi, Oliver D Mücke and Dr Jeffrey Moses

Quantum plasmonics Guest Editors: Zubin Jacob, Francisco Garcia Vidal and Eric Potma

Nano-optomechanics Guest Editors: Ignacio Wilson-Rae, Jack Sankey and Herman Offerhaus

Coherent diffractive imaging Guest Editors: Harry M Quiney, Garth Williams and Edwin Fohtung

Integrated quantum photonics Guest Editors: Nick Vamivakas, Alexander Sergienko and Andrea Fiore

Advanced solar cell technology Guest Editors: Barry Rand, Ned Ekins-Daukes and Franz-Josef Haug

Singular optics and topological photonics Guest Editors: Svetlana V Boriskina, Mark Dennis, Marat Soskin, Yidong Chong and Anton Desyatnikov

Recently publishedLight–matter interactions at the nanoscale Guest Editors: Mikhail A Noginov, Christoph Lienau and Marko Loncar

This issue provides an overview of a topic of rapidly increasing scientific importance and technological relevance. All the topics covered reflect areas of very active current research in nano-optics and their breadth illustrates the fundamental and multifaceted relevance of light–matter interactions on the nanoscale.

Mid-infrared and THz photonics Guest Editors: Daniel Wasserman, Ranjan Singh and Tahsin Akalin

The exciting works in this issue give a flavour of the wide range of efforts underway to explore, understand, and develop the mid-IR and THz frequency ranges. No longer buried under the thermal background, or stymied by absorption, the mid-IR and THz are poised to serve as the spectral homes of the next great growth in optics and photonics.

Special issues JOPT has a diverse programme of invited topical issues designed to collectively ensure that the journal represents the most cutting-edge research in the field.

Giant non-equilibrium vacuum friction.

Spatial power distribution in xz-plane.

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Visit iopscience.org/jopt/special issues collection for the full collection.

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Harmonic nanoparticles: noncentrosymmetric metal oxides for nonlinear optics Andrii Rogov, Yannick Mugnier and Luigi Bonacina 2015 J. Opt. 17 033001

Broadly tunable single-mode mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers Bo Meng and Qi Jie Wang 2015 J. Opt. 17 023001

Digital Fourier microscopy for soft matter dynamicsFabio Giavazzi and Roberto Cerbino2014 J. Opt. 16 083001

Recent advances on optical metasurfacesYang Zhao, Xing-Xiang Liu and Andrea Alù2014 J. Opt. 16 123001

Optical super-oscillations: sub-wavelength light focusing and super-resolution imagingEdward T F Rogers and Nikolay I Zheludev2013 J. Opt. 15 094008

Single molecule localization microscopy for superresolutionJohn R Allen, Stephen T Ross and Michael W Davidson2013 J. Opt. 15 094001

Topical reviewsNormally commissioned by the Editorial Board, Topical Reviews provide our readers with easy access to an overview of recent developments in subject areas of high interest.

Do you have a suggestion for a review? The JOPT editors would like to hear from you. Please contact us at jopt@iop.org

Keep up to date with the latest Topical Review publications at iopscience.org/jopt/topical review

Raising awareness of photonicsJOPT is proud to be an official media partner of the 2015 International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies. Visit our IYL 2015 celebratory collection iopscience.org/jopt/IYL2015.

An International Year of Light is a tremendous opportunity to ensure that international policymakers and stakeholders are made aware of the problem-solving potential of light technology. We now have a unique opportunity to raise global awareness of this.John Dudley, Chairman of the IYL 2015 Steering Committee

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What is the editorial scope of JOPT? JOPT publishes cutting-edge, original research articles in subject areas extending across optics and photonics. We welcome experimental and theoretical papers of fundamental and applied interest. See p4 for more details.

What is the publication criteria for JOPT? An article must report new, unpublished results that make a significant advance in the field. It should be written so that the main results and conclusions are accessible.

Does every submission go through the full peer-review process? No. Every JOPT submission is preliminarily assessed for editorial suitability by the journal team and the Editorial Board. In the interest of minimising unnecessary delay, authors will be informed at this initial stage if their article is considered more appropriate for another journal so that they may resubmit elsewhere.

How is the JOPT Editorial Board involved? The JOPT Editorial Board, made up of leading experts in optics, guides the editorial direction of the journal and actively commissions articles and special issues. They are also deeply involved in preliminarily assessment of articles and assisting the journal team on editorial decisions where expert opinion is required.

How long will the peer-review process take? On average, one can expect to receive an editorial decision within 35 days of submitting an article to JOPT.

Can JOPT fast-track the publication process? Yes. Articles that are identified as being of particular importance will be prioritised during the peer-review process. A decision is taken as quickly as possible without compromising the rigour of the process.

Does JOPT provide an author template? As we are happy to accept any layout for submission, authors may use their preferred template. We only require a PDF version for peer review.

Does JOPT have a press service to highlight newsworthy articles? Yes. IOP Publishing has a dedicated Press Office that regularly press-releases articles that are considered to be of potential interest to the general public and wider media. This is in addition to our other efforts to promote high-interest research.

Do I have to pay to publish in JOPT? No. For normal publication there is no page charge or publication fee. We also provide free colour for online publication.

What is the JOPT policy on open access? JOPT offers authors the option to publish their article as gold open access for a one-off article publication charge. We also accommodate free green open access. More details on our open access policy, including licensing and pricing information, are available at iopscience.org/jopt/open-access-information

Frequently asked questions

Journal team

Jarlath McKenna Publisher

Tom BrennanMarketing Executive

Paula KentProduction Editor

David SandellPublishing Administrator

Miriam HowlandPublishing Editor

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On behalf of the Editorial Board of JOPT, I would very much like to welcome regular

submissions of high-quality research to the journal from all over the world.

Nikolay Zheludev, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Optics

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IOP PublishingTemple Circus, Temple Way,

Bristol BS1 6HG, UK

For further information about Journal of Optics, visit

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Front cover image: An optical vortex, Bin Yang and Etienne Brasselet 2013 J. Opt. 15 044021