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Photonics
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Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to...
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Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "New Applications Enabled by Photonics Technologies and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2026 | Viewed by 2645

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Duo Jin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Interests: high power laser technology; laser frequency stabilization; nonlinear optics
Prof. Dr. Zhaohong Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center For Advanced Laser Technology (CALT), Hebei University of Technology, Xiping Street 5340, Tianjin 300401, China
Interests: nonlinear optics; high power laser; stimulated Brillouin scattering; solid-state laser; spectral imaging; microimaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xuchen Shan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Physics, Beihang University, Beijing, China
Interests: biophotonics; machine learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shunda Qiao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Interests: laser spectroscopy sensing technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Laiyang Dang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Interests: high-coherence laser; laser imaging; nonlinear optics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Photonics technology, fundamental to the information age, is revolutionizing the future of scientific research and industrial innovation with unprecedented depth. From high-speed global communications and precision medical diagnostics to quantum computing and advanced manufacturing, cutting-edge photonic technologies are not only crucial for scientific and technological progress but also for addressing major global challenges in energy, environment, and health. This Special Issue aims to compile the latest groundbreaking research in this field, establishing a platform for exchanging ideas, from fundamental physical exploration to state-of-the-art technological applications. It seeks to demonstrate how photonics, through the integrated technology chain of light source innovation, nonlinear control, and sensing applications, continuously expands our capacity to understand and reshape the world. We invite researchers from across the world to contribute original research articles and comprehensive reviews that cover theoretical and materials-, device-, and systems-level applications. We hope that this Special Issue fosters interdisciplinary cross-fertilization and advances photonic technologies to new heights.

This Special Issue focuses on the core components of the advanced photonics technology ecosystem, with topics of interest including, but not limited to, the following areas:

(1) Advanced Light Sources and Laser Technologies

  • Novel high-power, narrow-linewidth, ultrafast, and tunable lasers;
  • On-chip micro-lasers and photonic integrated circuits;
  • The development of novel laser sources, such as quantum dot lasers and fiber lasers.

(2) Nonlinear Optical Processes and Devices

  • Nonlinear frequency extension techniques, including harmonic generation, frequency conversion, and parametric oscillation;
  • Nonlinear effects and their applications, such as stimulated Raman scattering and four-wave mixing;
  • Novel nonlinear optical materials and devices based on metasurfaces, photonic crystals, and two-dimensional materials.

(3) Biophotonics and Advanced Imaging

  • Multiphoton microscopy, super-resolution imaging, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) imaging, etc.;
  • Deep-tissue imaging techniques, including optical coherence tomography and photoacoustic imaging;
  • Novel optical imaging methods for disease diagnosis, cell biology, and neuroscience;

(4) High-Precision Fiber and Spectroscopic Sensing:

  • Applications of photoacoustic spectroscopy sensing in environmental monitoring, industrial process analysis, and medical breath diagnostics;
  • High-sensitivity detection techniques, such as cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy;
  • Novel optical fiber sensors for trace gas detection, chemical analysis, and substance identification.

Dr. Duo Jin
Prof. Dr. Zhaohong Liu
Dr. Xuchen Shan
Dr. Shunda Qiao
Dr. Laiyang Dang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • advanced light sources and laser technologies
  • nonlinear optical processes and devices
  • biophotonics and advanced imaging
  • high-precision fiber and spectroscopic sensing

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

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1509 KB  
Article
Ultrafast Nonequilibrium Carrier Dynamics in Topological Insulator Bi2Se3 Probed by Terahertz Spectroscopy at Room Temperature
by Nuoxi Yu, Zhiqiang Lan, Tianhui Wang, Yuanyuan Guo, Changwei Li, Kaijie Chen, Yinwei Li, Yinghao Yuan and Zuanming Jin
Photonics 2026, 13(4), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13040377 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 220
Abstract
Topological insulators (TIs) feature unique Dirac fermion-hosting surface states with exceptional electronic properties, rendering them promising candidates for optoelectronic and spintronic applications. Herein, we investigate the relaxation dynamics of photoexcited carriers in Bi2Se3 films via optical pump–terahertz (THz) probe spectroscopy [...] Read more.
Topological insulators (TIs) feature unique Dirac fermion-hosting surface states with exceptional electronic properties, rendering them promising candidates for optoelectronic and spintronic applications. Herein, we investigate the relaxation dynamics of photoexcited carriers in Bi2Se3 films via optical pump–terahertz (THz) probe spectroscopy (OPTP) at room temperature. Under 800 nm pump pulse excitation, the time-dependent real part of the pump excitation conductivity Δσ exhibits a positive-to-negative sign reversal as carriers relax toward equilibrium, which is further validated by frequency-dependent conductivity spectra at varied pump-probe delays. The initial positive Δσ originates dominantly from bulk carrier contributions, while the negative component at prolonged delays is ascribed to Dirac surface states, driven by enhanced scattering of photoexcited carriers. Using the Drude–Smith model to fit the differential conductivity spectra, we quantitatively extracted time-dependent transport parameters of bulk and surface states. These results unravel the comprehensive carrier relaxation mechanism in Bi2Se3, clarify the distinct roles of surface and bulk contributions, and lay the groundwork for designing TI-based THz devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications)
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13 pages, 3144 KB  
Article
Evolution of Specular and Antispecular Radially Polarized Partially Coherent Twisted Beams Blocked by an Opaque Obstacle
by Miaomiao Tang, Pengju Yuan, Yunzhe Yang, Yujie Zhou and Xinzhong Li
Photonics 2026, 13(4), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13040367 - 11 Apr 2026
Viewed by 210
Abstract
We introduce a class of specular and antispecular radially polarized partially coherent twisted beams by using a wavefront-folding interferometer and then investigate the propagation of such beams blocked by an opaque obstacle. One sees that these optical fields exhibit sharp internal spectral density [...] Read more.
We introduce a class of specular and antispecular radially polarized partially coherent twisted beams by using a wavefront-folding interferometer and then investigate the propagation of such beams blocked by an opaque obstacle. One sees that these optical fields exhibit sharp internal spectral density with a central peak in the specular case and a central dip in the antispecular case. It is also seen that both the spectral density and the polarization feature present a good twist effect and a tendency to self-heal upon propagation. However, unlike the spectral density that can recover its profile perfectly, the self-healing ability of both the degree of polarization and the generalized Stokes parameters is only partial and not complete. While a smaller value of the twist factor enhances the self-healing performance of the beam field, it slows the beam’s rotation and degrades the degree of polarization. Moreover, the polarization distribution in the central area is mainly determined by the phase difference of the interferometer. The results of our work have important applications in the fields of free-space beam communication and particle trapping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications)
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10 pages, 1720 KB  
Article
Generation of Soliton Molecules in an All-Normal Dispersion Yb-Doped Fiber Laser with a Lyot Filter
by Yanshu Wu, Guangyi Wu, Zichen Zhao, Jiaxin Xie, Abdul Qayyum Khan, Muhammad Shahid Rafiqued, Dongyun Yin and Shuai Yuan
Photonics 2026, 13(4), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13040351 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 333
Abstract
Soliton molecules offer practical advantages in high-speed optical communication, precision spectroscopy, and micromachining. In all-normal dispersion fiber lasers, group velocity dispersion broadens the pulse duration, hindering the attainment of the nonlinearity dispersion balance essential for soliton molecule formation. Consequently, the generation of soliton [...] Read more.
Soliton molecules offer practical advantages in high-speed optical communication, precision spectroscopy, and micromachining. In all-normal dispersion fiber lasers, group velocity dispersion broadens the pulse duration, hindering the attainment of the nonlinearity dispersion balance essential for soliton molecule formation. Consequently, the generation of soliton molecules in such lasers is a technically demanding task. Here, we report an all-normal dispersion fiber laser, mode-locked via nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) and Lyot filtering. By adjusting the intracavity polarization, this setup allows direct control over pulse interactions, enabling the generation of stable soliton molecules, soliton bound states, and multipulse states. A spectral modulation period of up to 0.95 nm is achieved. In addition, different types of solitons, such as soliton singlets and soliton molecules in tightly and loosely bound states, are observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications)
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11 pages, 1418 KB  
Article
Gain-Managed Nonlinear Fiber Source Enabled Line-Field Spectral-Domain OCT for High-Speed Imaging of Laser-Induced Tissue Ablation
by Ang Liu, Tao Ye, Shuyuan Zhu, Tong Xia, Shengli Pan, Chaowu Yan and Pu Wang
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030260 - 6 Mar 2026
Viewed by 410
Abstract
Line-field spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (LF-SD-OCT) offers high-speed parallel imaging, but lateral beam expansion limits the photon budget per spatial channel, compromising sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate a high-speed LF-SD-OCT system driven by a gain-managed nonlinear (GMN) all-fiber source operating at a central wavelength [...] Read more.
Line-field spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (LF-SD-OCT) offers high-speed parallel imaging, but lateral beam expansion limits the photon budget per spatial channel, compromising sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate a high-speed LF-SD-OCT system driven by a gain-managed nonlinear (GMN) all-fiber source operating at a central wavelength of 1063.2 nm. Delivering 269 mW of average power with a smooth 98 nm (3 dB) bandwidth, the GMN source effectively fulfills the stringent photon budget and stability requirements of parallel detection. The system achieves a 5.68 μm axial resolution and a ~1.2 mm effective imaging range. Ex vivo porcine myocardial tissue ablation experiments validate its capability for high-contrast cross-sectional visualization of ablation crater morphology, showing excellent agreement with optical microscopy. These results establish GMN-enabled LF-SD-OCT as a robust solution for the precise intraoperative monitoring of laser-induced tissue damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications)
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13 pages, 5737 KB  
Article
Modeling and Analysis of External Cavity Raman Lasers Generating Hermite–Gaussian Modes
by Zirui Zeng, Muye Li, Yuxiang Sun, Weibiao Chen, Dijun Chen, Xuezong Yang and Yan Feng
Photonics 2026, 13(3), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13030223 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 294
Abstract
An analytical model has been formulated to describe the generation of Hermite–Gaussian (HG) modes within Raman lasers through manipulation of the Stokes field’s optical axis deflection angle and its spatial offset relative to the pump field. This model predicts the dependence of HG [...] Read more.
An analytical model has been formulated to describe the generation of Hermite–Gaussian (HG) modes within Raman lasers through manipulation of the Stokes field’s optical axis deflection angle and its spatial offset relative to the pump field. This model predicts the dependence of HG modes’ oscillation on the angular deviation and off-axis distance between the optical axes of the pump and Stokes fields. Furthermore, an optical system has been engineered specifically for the generation of HG modes in a continuous-wave external cavity diamond Raman laser configuration. Experimental validation demonstrates strong concordance with theoretical predictions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications)
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14 pages, 2693 KB  
Article
Multilayered DNA Complex/Azo-Carbazole Films for Enhanced Holographic Recording
by Abishaka Arul Dhas, Diaa Hamed Abdelshafy Abdelsalam, Kenji Kinashi, Wataru Sakai, Naoto Tsutsumi and Jackin Boaz Jessie
Photonics 2026, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13010001 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 650
Abstract
Azobenzene-based hologram recording materials are well known for their rewritable and polarization-selective properties that enable polarization-multiplexed recording and high-density optical storage. High diffraction efficiency, longer retention time, and shorter response time are desirable for rewritable recording materials, but they always require a trade-off [...] Read more.
Azobenzene-based hologram recording materials are well known for their rewritable and polarization-selective properties that enable polarization-multiplexed recording and high-density optical storage. High diffraction efficiency, longer retention time, and shorter response time are desirable for rewritable recording materials, but they always require a trade-off relationship. In this study, we show that by simply coating the Azobenzene-based film with multiple layers of a suitable material, these parameters can be improved simultaneously without compromise. Bilayer films and triple layer films were prepared by depositing a DNA–surfactant complex-based layer above and below the azobenzene-based poly(CACzE-MMA) copolymer layer. The hologram recording performance was evaluated in terms of the diffraction efficiency, photoresponse time, and retention behavior of the recorded gratings. Compared with monolayer copolymer films, the multilayer DNA–surfactant complex-based copolymer films exhibited enhanced diffraction efficiency and faster photoresponse. In particular, the bilayer and trilayer structures showed a marked improvement in retention time, indicating suppressed relaxation of refractive index modulation. This enhancement is attributed to molecular confinement at the DNA–surfactant complex and copolymer interfaces generated by the layered architecture. These results demonstrate that a DNA–surfactant complex-based layering approach is an effective strategy for improving hologram stability and highlight the potential of DNA–surfactant complex-derived matrices as effective alternatives to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in holographic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Photonic Technologies: From Light Sources and Nonlinear Optics to Sensing Applications)
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