I am very pleased to introduce the inaugural issue of Optica Quantum. Optica (formerly OSA) is excited to present this new journal as a venue for researchers to disseminate their latest results to an audience specializing in photonics-related quantum information science and technology (QIST). The journal aims to be recognized as a prestigious one, on the level of Optica, so we encourage you to submit your most impactful results for consideration.

Optica has recently invested in the fast-growing area of QIST through sponsoring the lobbying effort that led to funding of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative, as well as creating the new conference series Quantum 2.0 (the third instance of which will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in June 2024). The new journal is the logical next step in this evolution.

Optica Quantum is off to an excellent start. We have received many submissions and are now publishing the first issue. There are five research articles: Hansen et al. on a demultiplexed multi-photon source [1], Vylegzhanin et al. on the excitation of Rydberg atoms via an optical nanofiber [2], Dryazgov et al. on a low-loss demultiplexer for single photons [3], Wang et al. on integrated electro-optic control of biphoton generation [4], and Yabuno et al. on superconducting photon detectors [5]. We also have a perspective piece from Ian Walmsley on light in quantum computing and simulation [6].

Optica Quantum will publish original research articles, mini reviews, tutorials, perspectives, comments and replies. Each paper submitted to Optica Quantum will undergo an initial review by the Editorial Board to determine its potential suitability for the journal, at which point the paper will be sent for peer review or be declined. The Editorial Board strives to make this first decision within ten days or less, providing a rapid yet thorough reviewing process to support timely publication of important research, while ensuring that authors can quickly submit their work to another journal if it is declined by Optica Quantum at this stage. Authors whose papers are declined, either at this initial editorial stage or after the peer review process, may be offered the option, as determined by the Associate Editor(s), to transfer their manuscript to another Optica Publishing Group journal and maintain the original submission date to Optica Quantum. Newsworthy articles that are accepted for publication will be promoted via coordinated media outreach and distributed broadly.

We are pleased that Optica Quantum also offers transparent peer review, the third Optica Publishing Group journal to do so, following Optics Continuum and Optica. Authors and reviewers may give permission for the peer review correspondence (decision letters, reviewer comments, author response) to be published with the final paper. The peer review correspondence is published if the author and all reviewers approve, and the reviewer reports remain anonymous. The first issue includes one paper with peer review comments [2].

Our Editorial Board is comprised of prominent researchers who will ensure that papers are given careful consideration and are handled quickly to maintain the spirit of rapid dissemination. I am pleased to introduce the Deputy Editors of Optica Quantum: Sonja Franke-Arnold of the University of Glasgow; Luis Sanchez Soto of Universidad Complutense de Madrid; and Kartik Srinivasan of NIST/University of Maryland. They collaborate with an outstanding international group of Associate Editors who will handle manuscript reviewing and acceptance decisions. I am delighted to work with this strong team.

I’d like to acknowledge all of the authors who have submitted to Optica Quantum so far and the reviewers who have provided constructive feedback to assist our editors. We are looking forward to helping grow the QIST community through the new journal Optica Quantum.