Freeform Optics for Illumination and Imaging
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 January 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Optical freeform surfaces, owing to their high degree of design freedom, can significantly reduce the number of components required in optical systems. As a result, they have found extensive applications in both imaging and non-imaging optical systems, making them a key research focus within the field of optical engineering. To further advance the development of research related to freeform optics, this Special Issue aims to compile the latest research findings from leading experts in the field. Our goal is to address and provide effective solutions to the challenges encountered in the design, fabrication, and testing of optical freeform surfaces, among other critical areas. The topics covered in this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Methods for designing optical freeform surfaces;
2. Technologies and processes for manufacturing optical freeform surfaces;
3. Optical freeform surfaces metrology;
4. Novel optical systems incorporating freeform surfaces, such as the following:
- LED lighting optics;
- Laser-beam-shaping systems;
- Photovoltaic concentrator systems;
- Off-axis reflecting telescopes;
- Vehicle-mounted head-up displays (HUDs);
- Virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) optical systems;
- Hyper-spectral imaging systems.
5. The integration of freeform optics with interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), computational imaging, and micro/nano optics.
Dr. Zhouping Su
Guest Editor
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. Photonics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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
- freeform optics
- LED illumination
- laser shaping
- methods for designing freeform optics
- freeform surface manufacturing and metrology
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.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
