Advanced Quantum Photonics

Overview

Manuscripts should be submitted in English, and the presentation should be as succinct as comprehension will permit. Manuscripts are reviewed and refereed. Those accepted for publication are edited for conformance to the journal's style.

How to Write a Good Scientific Paper by Chris Mack is a useful guide on writing for a peer-reviewed journal. Click here to download the full PDF of this free ebook.

---

Cover Letter

Authors are required to include a separate cover letter with their submission explaining the significance and novelty of the work, the problem that is being addressed, and why the manuscript belongs in this journal. This cover letter sample (.docx) can be used as a template.

---

English Language Editing

For authors who want help improving language and grammar, AI tools, such as Grammarly or PaperPal, offer a low-cost editing option. In accordance with the rules stated in the Large Language Models section of these guidelines, such use of AI tools is acceptable but should be disclosed in the Acknowledgments section of the manuscript. 

Alternatively, authors may prefer a human professional edit. For this service, SPIE recommends Editage, which offers a 15% discount to SPIE authors. Please note that use of this service does not guarantee editorial acceptance by an SPIE journal. You should avoid making additional changes to your manuscript after receiving the edited version, as grammatical errors may be introduced. More detailed information can be found at editage.com/spie.

---

Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI

SPIE recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models (LLMs), is increasingly used throughout the research and writing process. AI tools may be used in ways that support efficiency and clarity without compromising scholarly standards. Review the SPIE policy on artificial intelligence and generative AI for authors, reviewers, and editors prior to submission.

---

Manuscript Types

Research Paper: A full-length manuscript presenting original work.

Review Paper: An article reviewing a particular topic or field. Written by a highly regarded expert in the field, these articles summarize progress made in a particular research or development area during a specified period and summarize the current state of the art. Authors may propose a review article by emailing an inquiry to the Editor-in-Chief or to the staff at AQP@spie.org.

Perspective: A substantive article that provides forward-thinking assessment of a particular topic, where an expert review is provided with the goal of identifying challenges that might be addressable by photonic technologies or methods. The goal of these articles is to inform a broad readership and spark dialog that will help push the field forward. Authors may propose a Perspective by emailing an inquiry to the Editor-in-Chief or to the staff at AQP@spie.org.

News and Commentary: A description of news or opinions on a topic of general interest to AQP readers. Potential authors are encouraged to contact the Editor-in-Chief with proposals.

---

Manuscript Files and Templates

At initial submission, we require a combined PDF that contains the manuscript file and all figures. When you submit your revision, you’ll be asked for an editable manuscript file and individual figure files.

Microsoft Word: A Microsoft Word template (.docx) is available to assist you with formatting. Use MathType for equations. Or, if using MS Word 2007 or later, the native equation editor can be used, but the document must be saved as .docx. Backsaving to .doc format will convert all equations to low-resolution graphics, which cannot be used for typesetting. Please note that all accepted papers are professionally typeset; the template is intended only as a guideline for author convenience, and it is not necessary to rigidly adhere to the format.

LaTeX: A LaTeX template (.zip) is available to assist you with formatting, or you can use the Overleaf authoring tool explained below. LaTeX manuscripts can be uploaded as a .zip file including the manuscript, locally compiled PDF, bibliography, and all referenced style files and figures; or, the files can be uploaded separately. Please include all style files that are referenced in the .tex manuscript (such as .cls, .bst, .sty, etc.). Upon submission, choose file type “Merged PDF” for the locally compiled PDF; select “Bibliography” for .bib files; and select “LaTeX Supplementary File” for .cls, .bst, .sty, and any other associated style files. Do not include the README.txt file in the upload. Please note that all accepted papers are professionally typeset; the template is intended only as a guideline for author convenience.

    The SPIE journal template is available in the Overleaf authoring tool. Originally developed to simplify LaTeX authorship, this free online tool has numerous benefits, including:

• real-time collaboration between authors
• an intuitive user interface
• user support and LaTeX help
• easy document sharing and security options
• real-time preview of formatting and equations
• inline error warnings
• a rich-text mode that will look familiar to collaborators who are more comfortable authoring in Microsoft Word
• quick submission to an SPIE journal by following the link “Submit to SPIE Journals” at the top of the Overleaf template.

The SPIE Journal template on Overleaf also features helpful LaTeX tutorials and a free introductory course for authors who are new to Overleaf and LaTeX. If you encounter any problems using the SPIE LaTeX template on Overleaf, please contact their support team via https://www.overleaf.com/contact and they will help you resolve the issue.

---

Parts of a Manuscript

Title

The title of your paper should be descriptive and concise.

• Acronyms should be spelled out.
• Titles should not begin with the articles A, An, or The.
• Avoid use of the words "new" or "novel" in the title.

Authors and Affiliations

Provide full author names, including given name and family name. These names will be used in official databases and indexes. Initials are not allowed for the given name. Provide full affiliations, including institution, department, street address, city, postal code, and country. An email address should be provided for the corresponding author, and this person should be noted with a footnote.

Abstract

The abstract should be a summary of the paper and not an introduction (200 words maximum). Because the abstract may be used in abstracting journals, it should be self-contained (i.e., no numerical references) and substantive in nature, presenting concisely the objectives, methodology used, results obtained, and their significance. For further guidelines, please read the brief article titled "How to Write an Abstract," by Philip Koopman. (Courtesy of Philip Koopman, Carnegie Mellon University.) Abstracts should not make claims of novelty, as publication implies novelty.

Subject terms or keywords

Keywords are required. Please provide 3-6 keywords related to your paper.

Structure:

Introduction: Provide a clear context for the study, present the problem or research question, review relevant literature, and outline the paper’s objectives and hypotheses.

Materials and Methods: Include a detailed explanation of the experimental procedures, the equipment and materials used, and the methodology employed, enabling replication of the study. Examples of materials may include cell lines, devices unique to the lab, or any purchased materials critical to the results reported in the paper.

Results: Present the findings of the study in a clear and concise manner, using tables, graphs, or text to depict the data collected, without interpreting or evaluating the results.

Discussion: Interpret the results in light of the research question, compare them with existing literature, explain the implications of the findings, and suggest areas for future research.

Text

Type manuscript single-spaced, in a single column, using a readable font size (for example, 12-point type). Please add page numbers. Note the following style points:

• Journal style does not permit use of bold and italic font for emphasis; these styles should be reserved for formatting math. 
• Words should be spelled using American English. 
• Spell out all abbreviations and acronyms at first use. 
• Metric units should be used unless to do so is not feasible or would result in a serious loss of clarity. 
• Footnotes are not allowed for the main body of the text.

Equations

Create equations using MathType or Equation Editor 3.0. If using Word 2007 or later, the native equation editor can be used, but the document must be saved as .docx. When equations built with Microsoft's Editor are back-saved to the .doc format, they are converted to low-resolution graphics and will not be usable for composition. To use MathType or the old Equation Editor 3.0, you will need to select Object on the Text section of the Insert tab and then select MathType/Equation Editor in the drop-down menu. Variables should be written in italic font.

Biographies

Biographies of authors are published with each paper. Manuscripts should include a brief professional biography not to exceed 75 words. Authors are also encouraged to add their biography and photograph to their online SPIE profile on the SPIE website at http://spie.org/profiles/home.

Appendices

Any figures, tables, or equations in appendices should continue the numbering sequence established in the body of the paper. Appendices may not be consist of only tables and figures; they must also include explanatory text and captions.

Disclosures

Conflicts of interest should be declared under a "Disclosures" header. If the authors have no competing interests to declare, then a statement should be included declaring no conflicts of interest. For assistance generating a disclosure statement, see the form available from  the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors website: http://www.icmje.org/conflicts-of-interest/

Code and Data

In support of open scientific exchange, SPIE journals require Data and Code Availability Statements in all accepted papers under the heading “Code and Data Availability,” which should follow the Disclosures section. These statements should provide access information regarding the computer code, data, and materials that would be required to replicate or interpret the findings reported in the paper. See the section below about Code and Data for more information about what to include in this section.

Acknowledgments/Funding Sources

Use this section to identify people who have aided the authors in accomplishing the work presented and to acknowledge sources of funding. Include grant numbers and the full name of the funding body. Funding information will be deposited to Open Funder Registry.

References

References are copyedited to journal style after acceptance, so exact formatting is not required. Please include all information that is available, such as:

• Author names (with initials) — if more than 3 authors, include the name of the last author (e.g., First Author, Second Author, Third Author, … Last Author)
• Article or chapter title
• Journal or book title
• Volume and issue numbers
• Page range or article number
• Year of publication
• Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

A DOI is a unique identifier for a digital publication (such as a journal article or book chapter) that provides a permanent link to it online. If a DOI is available, include it at the end of the reference in brackets. You can look up DOIs for free using CrossRef: http://www.crossref.org/freeTextQuery/
 
Additional guidance for references:

• Use superscript or bracketed numbers for in-text citations (both are acceptable).
• List references at the end of the manuscript, numbered in the order they are cited in the text. 
• Cite private communications and unpublished reports as references

---

Artwork Preparation

For peer review, manuscripts should be submitted with the figures/tables and their captions incorporated into the same file as the manuscript text. However, upon first revision or acceptance, authors will be asked to submit individual figure files and a properly formatted manuscript for use in production. The total combined limit for submission files is ~100 MB.

General Figure Guidelines: Figures must be submitted in TIFF, PNG, or PDF format for publication. We cannot accept application files, i.e., Corel Draw, Microsoft Word, etc. Number all figures in the order that they appear in the text. All figure parts/panels must be labeled (a), (b), etc. Submit high-resolution figures. The quality of the published figure is only as good as the original file—it cannot be improved by the typesetter. 

Figure Permissions: If the figure is derived from a previously published image, the author must obtain permission from the original copyright holder, who may be the publisher and/or the author. Once permission is granted, the figure caption should include the line "Reproduced with permission, courtesy of [copyright owner]," or the publisher's required copyright statement. Many permissions can be obtained via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Figure Requirements:

Cover Artwork: AQP accepts submissions of images for consideration on the cover. Cover images should be visually striking, ideally informative as well as artistic. We recommend that authors have an image designed by a professional. If you would like to nominate artwork to be considered for the cover, please provide an image of no less than 600 dpi and a minimum of 8 in. x 10 in. Cover art should not include labels or text. Images can be uploaded with other files when you submit your revised manuscript or sent via email to AQP@spie.org as soon after acceptance as possible. Submission of an image does not guarantee it will be selected. Authors must secure copyright permission for use of the image.

---

Tables

Tables should be built in Word, Excel (embedded in Word), or LaTeX. They should not contain graphics. Tables containing images must be numbered as figures. Colored fonts will not appear in the typeset version, so bold and italic should be used for emphasis instead. Explain use of bold or italic in the caption or table footnote. Do not use shading. Very large tables may be vertically oriented, or they may span multiple typeset pages. A caption must be included with the table.

---

Video

Research articles, letters, and reviews may include video files. Acceptable file formats, including MOV, MPG, and MP4, are playable using standard media players, such as VLC or Windows Media Player. Standard media players should be used to check file properties and image/sound quality prior to submission. Because the speed of Internet connection varies, a recommended maximum size for each video file is approximately 12 MB.

The video should be mentioned according to the following numbering convention: Video 1, Video 2, etc. If videos are included as part of an existing figure, they should be described and identified within the figure caption. The media file type and size should be included in parentheses at the end of the caption; e.g., (MP4, 2.5 MB). 

Stand-alone videos may be accompanied by a representative still image. This image should be treated as a figure, numbered in sequence, and submitted in one of the accepted figure file formats. A caption describing the content of the video file is required, similar to a typical figure caption.

---

Code and Data

In support of open scientific exchange, SPIE journals require Code and Data Availability Statements in all accepted papers. These statements should describe how to access any data that would be required to replicate or interpret the findings reported in the paper.

Authors are encouraged to make the data and code related to the manuscript publicly available whenever possible, and utilize repositories that are well-known to the field (FigShare, Github, CodeOcean, etc.).

Availability Statement

If the data or code cannot be made publicly available, the authors should state the reason and explain how it can be obtained. Likewise, if data sharing is not applicable, the statement must say so.

The following examples may be used as guidance for Data Availability Statements:

• All data in support of the findings of this paper are available within the article or as supplementary material.
• The data presented in this article are publicly available in [repository name] at [DOI link].
• The archived version of the code described in this manuscript can be freely accessed through Code Ocean [DOI link].
• The data utilized in this study were obtained from [third party name]. Data are available with permission from [third party] by [procedure for data access].
• The data that support the findings of this article are not publicly available due to [privacy, ethical concerns]. They can be requested from the author at [email address].
• Data sharing is not applicable to this article, as no new data were created or analyzed.

Data availability statements should be located after the Disclosures.

Repositories

Code and data can be shared using any well-known repositories, including FigShare, Github, and CodeOcean. Data or code contained in an external repository should be cited in the reference list, and authors should include a DOI whenever it is available.

Dataset Reference Example: Creator Name, “Dataset Title,” Repository Name, version (publication year). https://doi.org/.....

Manuscripts that include externally hosted code should mention that code and the name of the repository in the text of the paper or figure caption:

Example 1:
The archived version of the code can be freely accessed and executed through Code Ocean.  

Example 2:
The code used to generate the results and figures is available in a Github repository.

Code Ocean is SPIE's recommended platform for sharing code, but other repositories may be similarly used as a hosting platform. Software and code essential for reproducibility and reuse can be easily incorporated into your SPIE journal manuscript via Code Ocean.

If you intend to upload code to Code Ocean, you may do so before or after article acceptance, but prior to publication. Authors of papers that mention code/software on Code Ocean will receive instructions on how to link the code to the article in the author proofs.

---

Disclosures

Conflicts of interest include relationships, affiliations, and financial interests pertinent to the research presented in a manuscript. Potential conflicts of interest may include employment, ownership of stock or stock options, patents, honoraria, grants, royalties, consultancies, donations, and other types of funding. Even the appearance of a conflict can constitute a breach of ethical publishing, and therefore situations and activities that may be perceived as conflicts should be reported. Conflict of interest disclosures should cover the past three years.

If no conflicts of interest exist, a statement confirming “The authors declare that there are no financial interests, commercial affiliations, or other potential conflicts of interest that could have influenced the objectivity of this research or the writing of this paper” is included in a Disclosures section of the manuscript.

---

Supplementary Material

Authors may submit supplementary material supporting original research. Please indicate whether the supplementary material is intended for publication.

If intended for publication, supplementary material such as notes, figures, and tables should be compiled by the author into a single “Supplementary Material” PDF file to be linked to the parent article upon publication (e.g., doi 10.1117/1.AP.2.1.016001.s01). 

Any references cited in the supplementary material must be included in the full list of references in the main article; if any references are not cited in the main text, they should be listed in order at the end of the main reference list.

Countable supplementary items mentioned in the primary text should be numbered sequentially with an uppercase S to identify them as supplementary, i.e. Figure S1, Figure S2, etc. 

Other types of supplementary material may be considered for publication, if they will benefit the reader's understanding of the work. Please contact the editorial staff at AQP@spie.org for guidance.

All supplementary material submitted will be assessed for appropriateness and value. The journal editor has final authority to decide whether supplementary material should be published with the article. Authors are responsible for ensuring that any supplemental materials they submit are not subject to any prior copyright.

---

Peer Review Process

Overview

All submissions are screened to ensure they meet basic standards of manuscript presentation and are also processed through Crossref Similarity Check. Manuscripts are then evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief (EiC) and editorial board members (EBMs) to ensure they meet the journal's rigorous scientific standards and are eligible for peer review. Manuscripts that meet these criteria are reviewed (single-anonymous) by at least two referees selected by the EBM based on their expertise in the topic. The referees provide detailed comments and recommendations to help the EBM arrive at the appropriate editorial decision. Revised manuscripts are evaluated by the EBM and may be sent to the original or new referees. The EiC has the ultimate authority to accept or reject a submission.

Authors should carefully address all reviewer comments when submitting a revised manuscript. 

Authors may appeal to the EBM or EiC to reconsider a rejection decision if they believe that the reviewers have seriously misjudged the manuscript. All appeals will be given careful consideration. The EBM and/or EiC will determine if further consideration is merited or if the original decision should stand.

Submissions from editors or members of the editorial board are handled by an EBM who is not connected with the manuscript to ensure that such submissions receive an objective and unbiased evaluation. Information about the review process for such submissions is redacted from the view of any editors or EBMs who are authors of the paper within the journal's online submission and review system.

Revised Manuscripts

When submitting a revised manuscript, authors must include a “response letter” that addresses the reviewers’ comments on a point-by-point basis. The following guidelines are provided to assist you in writing an appropriate response letter.

First, you should be aware that the response letter will be read by the assistant editors, topical editors, and sometimes the original reviewers, if the paper requires re-review. It will be easier for the editors and reviewers to evaluate your revised manuscript if you provide a well-written and detailed response letter that thoroughly addresses the reviewers’ comments. The response letter connects the revised paper with the reviewers’ comments and the original paper. When an editor or reviewer reads the response letter, they should be able to easily determine what comments were raised by the reviewers, how the authors addressed these comments, and where the revisions are located in the manuscript corresponding to each comment.

Here are some additional tips: 

1. Answer the reviewers’ comments item by item, in the order presented by the reviewers. Avoid mixing all the questions together and answering them in your own order. Although this may seem more logical to you, it will make it more difficult for the editors to determine whether you have adequately addressed the reviewers’ comments.
2. Take the reviewers’ comments seriously and answer them all completely. Avoid simply answering “Ok” or “Yes” to the questions. At the very least, you should indicate where you made changes in the manuscript corresponding to each reviewer comment.
3. Read your response letter several times to ensure you have addressed all the reviewers’ comments and have not made any typos or grammatical mistakes.

 For your reference, a template response letter is available here.

Open Access

Advanced Quantum Photonics articles are published with immediate open access. Read more about our open access program.

---

Author Proofs

Accepted papers are immediately sent into production, where they are professionally copyedited and typeset in XML. It usually takes 10-12 days after acceptance to generate the first proof. The corresponding author will be notified by email when the proof is ready to review. Changes should be kept to a minimum. Additions or subtractions of large portions of text may require re-review.

---

Promote Your Research

Here are some ways you can publicize your new article:

• Share your article on social media. This tip sheet for SPIE journal authors  can help get you started.
• Write an article summary to share with your institution’s communications or PR office.
• Update your online CV and website to include a complete citation to the article.
• Inform your institution that it has been published so that it may be added to any lists of publications they maintain and disseminate.
• Create a 90-second Explainer Video to be published with your paper and shared on social media.

---

How to Cite

Advanced Quantum Photonics uses six-digit citation identifiers (CIDs) in place of traditional page numbering. This allows an issue to build online one article at a time, while retaining the ability to segment tables of contents by article type or subject area. An example of the correct citation format for an AQP article is:

A. Smith and B. Jones, "Paper title," Adv. Quant. Photon. 1(2), 023407 (2026).

In this fictitious example, the article by Smith and Jones was published in Advanced Quantum Photonics in Issue 2 of Volume 1, as the seventh article published in the section of the table of contents to which it was assigned (in this case, category number 34, which could represent either a topical section or an article type category within the table of contents).

In the full-text PDF file, the CID appears on each page. Appended at the end of the CID is a hyphen followed by a consecutive page number. For the sample article above, the pages would carry this page numbering: 023407-1, 023407-2, 023407-3, etc. The hyphen and additional digits should not be used when citing or searching for an article.

---

Article Sharing

For details about publication licenses and the associated rights to share published articles, see the SPIE policies on article-sharing.

---

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

As a publisher, SPIE has an obligation to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record, and will make changes to published articles in certain circumstances, as described here.

Errata

An erratum describes corrections to a published paper resulting from errors with data or interpretation, omissions of information, or any other technical error. An erratum may be initiated by the author, a reader, or an editor, but must have the author’s approval. These statements are published separately from the original paper and include a citation to the original article. When an erratum is published, the original work will also, whenever possible, be corrected and republished with a Corrected date on the PDF, which helps to prevent future duplication of the error.

Any changes to the author list post-publication require approval from all authors and the Editor in Chief, and are at the discretion of the Publisher.

Errata are free to read.

Publisher’s Note

When an error in a paper is initiated by the publisher, such as something inadvertently introduced during copyediting or typesetting, and the error impacts the integrity of the article, a Publisher’s Note may be issued. In this case, the original article will be corrected and republished online with a Corrected date on the PDF. The Publisher’s Note will describe the change and include a citation and link to the original article. Publisher’s Notes are free to read.

Retraction

Retractions may be initiated by an author, a journal editor, the publisher, or an author’s institution.

Authors who identify serious errors in their own work are encouraged to proactively request retraction. Self-reported honest mistakes are viewed as responsible scholarly conduct and as an important contribution to the integrity of the scientific record.

Retraction may also be considered when there is clear evidence that a paper’s findings are unreliable. This may result from major unintentional errors or from concerns such as fabrication or falsification. Retraction may also be appropriate in cases of plagiarism; prior publication of substantially similar findings without proper attribution; use of unauthorized data or material; copyright infringement; unethical research involving human or animal subjects; publication resulting from compromised or manipulated peer review; failure to disclose a significant conflict of interest; or egregious misconduct related to authorship, including paid authorship or inclusion of authors without their knowledge or consent. These criteria are consistent with the Council of Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on retraction.

When a paper is retracted, the original PDF will be republished with a clear “Retracted” watermark on all pages, and “Retracted” will be added to the article title. The online version of the article will be replaced with a retraction notice that includes the full citation of the original paper and a transparent explanation of the reason for retraction. The retraction notice will retain the original DOI and citation information to ensure clarity and traceability of the scholarly record.

Before a final retraction decision is made, authors will be notified and given an opportunity to respond or appeal. Retraction does not require unanimous agreement of all authors. Retraction notices are freely accessible to all readers.

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern (EOC) may be warranted when serious concerns about a published article are raised but evidence that the article should be retracted is inconclusive. SPIE journals follow COPE guidance on the issuing of EOCs.

---

Name Changes

Authors may wish to change a name due to gender identity, marriage, divorce, religion, or other reasons, and SPIE will not require proof or supporting documentation for this change. When an author requests a name change on a work or works published in the SPIE Digital Library, the paper(s) will be updated and republished online, while maintaining the same citation information. Name changes do not require an erratum. It is recommended that co-authors are informed of the name change.

Misspellings and errors in an author's name are a different matter and still require correction via erratum.

To request a name change, complete the name change request form. You will need to provide the impacted paper DOI(s) and the name change information. We will update the paper promptly and republish online, which will trigger it to be redelivered to abstracting and indexing databases.

Misuse of this policy is an ethical violation and will be investigated and acted upon.