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Feature Issue of Applied Optics and Optics Continuum

Optical Science and Photonics in Africa

Submission Opens: 1 May 2024

Submission Deadline: 30 October 2024

Applied Optics and Optics Continuum welcome submissions to a feature issue, "Optical Science and Photonics in Africa." Optical science and photonics are driving the knowledge advances and economy of the world, encompassing important areas such as green photonics, biophotonics, agrophotonics, environmental photonics, and so on. These areas are at the heart of the needed development for the African continent. The feature issue will provide researchers in Africa with the opportunity to share their current work, and, in particular, discuss the works being conducted in these areas and in African photonics research laboratories.

In addition to covering research advances, the feature will present a perspective on challenges, opportunities, and impacts on society through studies that address continental issues. The feature issue will also solicit papers to highlight the excellence in optical science and photonics research presently underway in Africa. With its emerging excellence, it is high time to showcase optics by Africans to Africans and to the world.

Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to:

  • Nonlinear Optics
  • Waveguide Optics
  • Silicon Photonics
  • Biophotonics
  • Light Induced Phenomena
  • Photomechanics and Optomechanics
  • Photoreactive Materials
  • Green Photonics
  • Photovoltaics and Photovoltaic Materials
  • Optical Materials
  • 3D Nanoprinting
  • Optics Modes and Structured Light
  • Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum of Light
  • Surface Structuring of Materials
  • Plasmonics and Plasmonic Materials
  • Surface Plasmon Polaritons
  • Bio- and Chemical Sensing
  • Metamaterials
  • Nanomaterials
  • Photonics and Semiconductor Optics
  • Physical Optics
  • Quantum Optics and Entanglement
  • Spectroscopy and Atomic or Molecular Optics
  • Super-resolution and Advanced Imaging
  • Ultrafast Optical Phenomena
  • Atmospheric Optics
  • Clinical vision
  • Diffraction and gratings
  • Image processing
  • Machine vision
  • Physiological optics
  • Polarization
  • Scattering
  • Thin films
  • Visual optics
  • Fiber Optics and Fiber Lasers
  • Lasers and Other Light Sources
  • Agrophotonics
  • Remote Sensing

Authors may choose between Applied Optics and Optics Continuum when submitting to the joint feature issue, but should recognize the differences between them and select the appropriate journal. The guest editors may recommend transferring a manuscript to the other journal as needed. Papers will appear in their respective journals. Additionally, a combined table of contents of papers from both journals will appear once all papers are published.

All submissions need to present original, previously unpublished work and will be subject to the normal standards and peer review processes of the journal. The standard Applied Optics and Optics Continuum Article Processing Charges will apply to all published articles. Optics Continuum offers APC waivers or a 30% discount to corresponding authors from qualifying countries.

Please prepare manuscripts according to the author instructions for submission to Applied Optics or Optics Continuum and submit through the Prism submission system, specifying from the drop-down menu that the manuscript is for the feature issue on Optical Science and Photonics in Africa.

Feature Editors
Zouheir Sekkat, Optics & Photonics Center, MAScIR-UM6P, Ben Guerir, and University Mohamed 5, Morocco (Lead Editor)
Andrew Forbes, University Witwatersrand, South Africa
Patience Mthunzi-Kufa, CSIR, South Africa
Balla Diop Ngom, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal