Innovations in Optical Wireless Communications: Challenges and Opportunities
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Optical Communication and Network".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 6064
Special Issue Editors
Interests: optical communication; free space optical communication; digital signal processing
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Optical wireless communication (OWC) represents an advanced technology in the field of communication, leveraging light waves to transmit data in free space. It offers significant advantages over traditional radio frequency communications, including a vast unlicensed spectrum, enhanced security, synergies with other technologies, such as imaging and tracking, and the potential for high data rates. This technology encompasses various forms, such as visible light communication (VLC) and free space optical communication (FSO), each providing unique solutions for a wide range of applications, from indoor wireless networking to long-distance communication for terrestrial or space environments.
Despite its promising potential, OWC faces challenges such as signal attenuation, ambient light interference, turbulence, and line-of-sight requirements. There is also a necessity for transmitter and receiver hardware with properties including a high bandwidth, high output power, high sensitivity, and low size, weight, and power (SWAP). Overcoming these obstacles is crucial for enhancing OWC’s reliability and practicality. This Special Issue seeks to stimulate further research and development, paving the way for integrating OWC into next-generation communication technologies.
We encourage contributions that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Novel digital signal processing (DSP) techniques;
- Channel modeling;
- Challenging optical channel mitigation;
- New devices, such as micro-LEDs and deep UV (DUV) light sources, and single-photon-sensitive receivers;
- Pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) technology;
- Novel scenarios, such as underwater and none line of sight;
- Indoor positioning and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
We look forward to receiving high-quality submissions that contribute to the advancement of OWC and help realize its full potential.
Dr. Yingjie Shao
Dr. Jonathan McKendry
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- optical wireless communication
- visible light communication (VLC)
- free space optical communication
- digital signal processing (DSP)
- micro-LEDs
- channel modeling
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