Advances in Short-Reach Optical Interconnects and Networking Technologies
A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2026 | Viewed by 20
Special Issue Editors
Interests: optical communications; short-reach optical interconnects; DSP algorithms; optical transmission system
Interests: digital signal processing and machine learning for optical communications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Short-reach optical interconnects play a critical role in the development of high-capacity, low-latency optical networks, including passive optical networks, data centers, and mobile access networks. These technologies are rapidly evolving to meet the ever-growing need for bandwidth, energy efficiency, and scalability, driven by emerging applications such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G/6G, and edge computing.
In passive optical networks, data rates are transitioning from 50 Gbps to 200 Gbps per wavelength, requiring advanced modulation formats, cost-effective optical components, and efficient digital signal processing (DSP). In parallel, Ethernet-based interconnects in data centers are pushing toward 800 Gbps and 1.6 Tbps, promoting the development of co-packaged optics, silicon photonics, and low-power DSP algorithms. Significant advances in mobile front-haul and mid-haul links are also being observed, thus supporting the high throughput and low latency requirements of next-generation radio access networks (xHaul).
To address these challenges, innovation is needed across multiple layers—from physical-layer devices and packaging technologies to link-level system design and network-level architecture. Optical interconnects must not only scale in speed and density but also remain cost-effective, thermally efficient, and compatible with legacy infrastructure.
This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advances in short-reach optical interconnects and networking technologies. We welcome both original research articles and comprehensive review papers, and encourage the submission of papers that address theoretical foundations, experimental results, and practical deployment challenges, particularly those fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Dr. Qi Wu
Dr. Zhaopeng Xu
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 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
- high-speed transceiver design and integration for short-reach links
- modulators, photodetectors and amplifiers for short-reach interconnects
- DSP algorithms for short-reach links
- optical transmission system design and optimization
- spatial division multiplexing, hollow core fibers for short-reach interconnects
- transmission link and network modeling in optical communication systems
- wavelength-division and space-division multiplexing for optical interconnects
- advanced modulation formats and digital signal processing (DSP) techniques
- silicon photonics and other integrated photonic platforms
- energy-efficient designs and thermal management strategies
- optical switching and routing architectures for data centers
- AI-driven network optimization and traffic engineering
- co-packaged optics and chip-to-chip optical interconnects
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