Coherence and Polarization Optics
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Interaction Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 October 2026 | Viewed by 21
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Light waves are characterized by four fundamental properties. While intensity and spectrum are ubiquitous in daily life, polarization and phase remain largely confined to scientific research. These two properties, however, unlock unique capabilities—such as polarization-based underwater imaging, 3D surface reconstruction, and biological tissue characterization via Mueller matrix analysis. Phase, predominantly studied in coherent light, plays a central role in quantitative phase imaging, optical coherence tomography, super-resolution microscopy, and scattering-based imaging.
Providing an additional dimension of information on polarization and phase will significantly enhance the precision of optical systems. Information about phase enables height detection at the sub-nanometer scale, while information about polarization reveals material properties such as isotropy and anisotropy. This Special Issue aims to present cutting-edge advances in coherence and polarization optics, with a focus on pushing the limits of current imaging systems. We welcome original research and review articles that explore new principles, methods, and applications. Topics include but are not limited to, the following:
- Underwater polarization imaging;
- Polarimetric 3D imaging;
- Polarization-based dehazing in atmospheric environments;
- Mueller matrix imaging and instrumentation;
- Forward and inverse modeling in polarized light transport;
- Scattering imaging and reconstruction;
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT);
- Quantitative phase imaging (QPI).
Dr. Yi Wei
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- polarization
- scattering
- phase
- imaging model
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