About the Journal
Light Manipulation and Applications (LMA) is a highly selective, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to publishing top-quality, impactful research in all areas of optics and photonics. The journal covers fundamental, applied, scientific, and engineering advancements related to the manipulation and application of light. LMA ensures rigorous yet accessible contributions, supported by a fast and professional peer-review process aimed at the rapid dissemination of transformative discoveries.
Aims and Scope
LMA seeks high-quality submissions that advance the understanding and practical use of light manipulation across diverse scientific, technological, and engineering domains. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Structured light: generation, manipulation, transformation, characterization and detection
• Techniques for tailoring and characterizing structured light fields
• Optical physics: propagation, interference, diffraction, and angular momentum of light
• Optical coherence and partially coherent light fields
• Statistical optics, including speckle phenomena and light scattering
• Vector beams, singular optics, and optical vortices
Spatiotemporally structured light: space–time coupling, time-varying fields, and polychromatic pulses
• Topological properties of light: singular optics, optical vortices, Skyrmions, Hopfions, and others
• Structured light in quantum optics, ultrafast optics, and nonlinear optics
• Advanced metasurfaces and nanophotonic platforms for light field structuring
• Applications of structured light in light–matter interactions, imaging, holography, communication, sensing, metrology, information processing, high-energy physics, and beyond
Acceptable Article Types:
Research Articles: Full-length articles (6-8 pages) presenting original, high-impact research in light manipulation, photonic devices, optical systems, and related technologies.
Review: Comprehensive overviews (12+ pages) summarizing the state-of-the-art developments, challenges, and future directions in key optical and photonic research areas.
Mini-Reviews: Concise reviews (6-8 pages) offering critical insights into emerging concepts, technologies, or interdisciplinary trends in optics.
Perspectives: Opinion-style articles (3-6 pages) providing expert viewpoints on future research directions, conceptual challenges, or transformative ideas in light-based science and engineering.
Short Correspondences: Brief (2 pages) announcements of exciting discoveries or innovations in the field.
Publication Frequency
Quarterly.
Publishing Model
LMA is an open-access journal that ensures all content is freely available to users and their institutions without any associated costs. Users are granted full rights to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, and link to the full texts of articles, as well as to use them for any other lawful purposes, without the need for prior permission from the publisher or the author. This policy aligns with the principles of open access, promoting the broad dissemination of scientific knowledge to a global audience and enhancing the accessibility of high-quality research.
Licensing and Copyright
LMA is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain the copyright of their work and agree to make their original works freely available for use, copying, and redistribution in all formats without needing permission, provided that proper citation is given to the authors and the original source. This license allows others to share, adapt, and build upon the work, fostering collaboration and further innovation in the field.