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Information for Authors

The Journal of lightwave technology is published semimonthly. It is comprised of original contributions covering work in all aspects of optical guided- wave science, technology, and engineering. Manuscripts are solicited that report original theoretical and/or experimental results that advance the technological base of guided-wave technology. Tutorial and review papers are by invitation only. Topics of interest include the following: fiber and cable technologies, active and passive guided-wave componentry (light sources, detectors, repeaters, switches, fiber sensors, etc.), integrated optics/optoelectronics, systems/ subsystems, networks, switching, new applications, and unique field trials. System-oriented manuscripts should be concerned with systems that perform a function not previously available, out-perform previously established systems, or represent enhancements in the state of the art in general. “Information for IEEE Transactions and Journals Authors” is available on request from IEEE Publishing Services, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08854-4141.

The articles in this journal are peer reviewed in accordance with the requirements set forth in the IEEE PSPB Operations Manual (sections 8.2.1.C & 8.2.2.A). Each published article was reviewed by a minimum of two independent reviewers using a single-blind peer review process, where the identities of the reviewers are not known to the authors, but the reviewers know the identities of the authors. Articles will be screened for plagiarism before acceptance. Corresponding authors from low-income countries are eligible for waived or reduced open access APCs.

Submission instructions: Manuscripts should be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jlt-ieee. Manuscripts may be submitted in .pdf or Word format for review purposes; however, after a paper is accepted, the files must be formatted according to IEEE production requirements (text and art saved separately in approved applications). Please try to follow the accepted style of the Journal as much as possible.

English Language Editing Services: English language editing services can help refine the language of your article and reduce the risk of rejection without review. IEEE authors are eligible for discounts at several language editing services; visit the IEEE Author Center to learn more. Please note these services are fee-based and do not guarantee acceptance.

Preparing accepted papers for production: Immediately after a manuscript has been accepted, the author must send all final versions of files through the "Awaiting Final Files" queue in the author center on the web. Please make sure your final package is correct and complete upon submission. Once you have com- pleted the submission of your final files you will not be able to make changes until you have received your page proofs from IEEE. Please ensure you include:

  •  manuscript (text only) without underlines in MS Word or LaTex
  •  figures/photos saved as separate .pdf, .eps, .png, or .tif files 
  •  biographies in MS Word
  •  list of all authors and their contact information, especially e-mail addresses and fax numbers, designated as supporting document during upload
  •  a separate file with approval for color art charges (if applicable), designated as supporting document 
  •  a separate PDF file of the final text and figures. 

Please submit your paper for review at Manuscript Central in electronic files containing: 1) a cover letter stating that the paper includes new material that has not been previously published, 2) the complete manuscript, 3) up to eight Index Words or Keywords (for a list of suggested keywords, visit http://www.ieee.org/ documents/taxonomy_v101.pdf), 4) references, which must include full titles and first and last page numbers of articles, and 5) short biographies of all authors

In order for an abstract to be effective when displayed in IEEE Xplore® as well as through indexing services such as Compendex, INSPEC, Medline, ProQuest, and Web of Science, it must be an accurate, stand-alone reflection of the contents of the article.

In particular:

  • The abstract must be self-contained, without abbreviations, footnotes, or references. It should be a microcosm of the full article.
  • The abstract must be between 150-250 words. Be sure that you adhere to these limits; otherwise, you will need to edit your abstract accordingly. 
  • The abstract must be written as one paragraph, and should not contain displayed mathematical equations or tabular material. 
  • The abstract should include three or four different keywords or phrases, as this will help readers to find it. It is important to avoid over-repetition of such phrases as this can result in a page being rejected by search engines.
  • Ensure that your abstract reads well and is grammatically correct. 

Graphical Abstract: This journal accepts graphical abstracts and they must be peer reviewed. For more information about graphical abstracts and their specifications, please visit the following link: https://journals.ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org/create-your-ieee-article/prepare-supplementary-materials/ developing-a-graphical-abstract/

Author names in native languages: IEEE supports the publication of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) author names (including non- Latin languages) in the native language alongside the English versions of the names in the author list of an article. Chinese authors may use either Simplified or Traditional characters. Authors must provide the native language name in unicode characters to be displayed in the byline of the article, in parentheses, after the English version of the name. For more information, please visit the IEEE Author Center at the following URL: https://journals.ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org/create-your-ieee-article/create-the-text-of-your-article/publishing-author-names-in-native-languages/.

Copyright: It is the policy of the IEEE to own the copyright to the technical contributions it publishes on behalf of the interest of the IEEE, its authors, and their employers, and to facilitate the appropriate reuse of this material by others. IEEE has moved to an all electronic copyright submission system. Once you have submitted your final files, a link titled transfer copyright will appear in the manuscripts with decisions queue in your author center. Please immediately log back into your author center and complete the electronic copyright transfer after you have submitted your final files.

ORCID Required: All IEEE journals require an Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) for all authors. To create an ORCID, please visit: https://orcid.org/register. The author will need a registered ORCID in order to submit a manuscript or review a proof in this journal.

Open Access: This publication is a hybrid journal, allowing either Traditional manuscript submission or Open Access (author-pays OA) manuscript submission. Upon submission, if you choose to have your manuscript be an Open Access article, you commit to pay the discounted $2,345 OA fee if your manuscript is accepted for publication in order to enable unrestricted public access. Any other application charges (such as over-length page charge and/ or charge for the use of color in the print format) will be billed separately once the manuscript formatting is complete but prior to the publication. If you would like your manuscript to be a Traditional submission, your article will be available to qualified subscribers and purchasers via IEEE Xplore. No OA payment is required for Traditional submission.

Page Charges: After a manuscript has been accepted for publication, the author’s company or institution will be asked to pay page charges of $110 per page to cover part of the cost of publication. In addition, overlength page charges of $260 per page are mandatory for each page in excess of seven printed pages and are required for publication. Page charges (first seven pages only) for this Journal are not obligatory, nor is their payment a prerequisite for publication. Detailed instructions will accompany the galley proof.

Color Art Charges: We have new options available for authors whose manuscripts have color figures: 1) We will display color figures online at IEEE Xplore as a free service. 2) For the hardcopy edition of the journal, you can choose whether to pay to print the figures in color ($275USD per figure) OR have them printed in black and white at no additional cost. Unless a document indicating approval for print color is submitted with your final files, all figures will be printed in black and white by default.