applsci-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Machine Learning and AI in Optical Communication Systems

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Optics and Lasers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2026 | Viewed by 21

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
TECIP Institute Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: optical communication systems; high capacity coherent communication; secure optical communication; physical layer security; optical identification; constellation shaping; physical unclonable function; digital signal processing; steganography

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Engineering and Sciences, Faculty of Technological Sciences and Innovation, Universitas Mercatorum, 00186 Rome, Italy
2. M.B.I. srl, 57128 Pisa, Italy
Interests: all-optical signal processing; fiber-optic transmission systems; applications of photonic microwave techniques to radar and wireless communications; optical beamforming for 5G; photonics-assisted coherent MIMO radar systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exponential advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has a significant impact on communication systems and networks, offering opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and enhanced security. We aim to investigate the role of AI and ML in enhancing security in optical communication networks, focusing on physical layer security, authentication, identification, monitoring, and emerging attacks. This issue will focus on advancing research, groundbreaking innovations, and practical applications for physical layer security (PLS), addressing the critical aspects of physical layer trustworthiness, integrity, and security. It will span information theory to practical implementation, emphasizing authentication, identification, monitoring, and attack detection through AI and ML techniques. We encourage authors to submit high-quality, original contributions on the creation of robust and efficient security mechanisms that can shield optical networks from evolving threats, enabling the design and implementation of secure optical communication systems. In addition, research on ensuring the privacy of data transmission across diverse domains, including optical telecommunications and critical infrastructure networks, by implementing AI and ML techniques will be considered. The broad range of topics related to this Special Issue’s focus on physical layer security include but are not limited to the following: security requirements from the perspective of operators and service providers; security plane architecture and communication security from a vendor perspective; information theory and information security; security aspects in fiberoptic communication; ML in PHY(QKD); digital twin, security and AI solutions for PLS; practical approaches to PLS; and the assessment of trustworthiness and required metrics using ML techniques.

Dr. Pantea Nadimi Goki
Dr. Giovanni Serafino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical layer security
  • attacks
  • identification
  • authentication
  • optical communication networks
  • machine learning
  • artificial intelligence
  • trustworthiness
  • monitoring
  • privacy
  • integrity

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
Back to TopTop