Next-Gen Optical Wireless Communication

Dear Colleagues,

The convergence of photonics and wireless communication technologies is redefining the capabilities of modern networks. With the rollout of 5G and the rapid expansion of satellite-based connectivity, there is increased demand for communication systems that offer higher capacity, lower latency, and improved spectral efficiency. Optical wireless communication (OWC), encompassing visible, infrared, and ultraviolet bands, has emerged as a key technology to complement and extend existing RF infrastructures. This Special Issue will highlight recent advances in the design, modeling, and implementation of OWC systems that support next-generation terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication networks.

We invite high-quality submissions presenting novel theoretical analyses, experimental results, and system-level innovations. Topics of interest include hybrid RF/optical systems for 5G and beyond, free-space optical (FSO) communication for satellite and aerial networks, photonic front-end design for OWC transceivers, optical backhaul for ultra-dense networks, and adaptive beamforming under atmospheric turbulence. Studies addressing AI/ML-based network optimization, energy-efficient architectures, channel modeling under dynamic environments, and integration within future 6G and non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are particularly encouraged

Scope: This Special Issue provides a forum for disseminating cutting-edge research at the intersection of photonics and wireless communications. Its scope includes developments in optical transceiver design, modulation and coding for OWC, link performance analysis, and system integration with terrestrial and satellite infrastructures. Contributions that advance fundamental understanding, experimental validation, or practical deployment of next-generation OWC systems are welcome.

Dr. Amin Malek
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 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.