Advances in Optical Technologies aims to serve the applied optics community with an open access journal that is freely available to all interested readers. There is no journal serving this community with online communication of important ideas and accomplishments in such a way. Optics is growing as a field, but no mechanism exists for communicating the applied aspects of the field in a way that is universally accessible. Anyone can read any article in Advances in Optical Technologies at any time. The use of color figures will be freely available for all authors, which is especially important as many applications involve images and graphs which are easier to understand in color. Furthermore, authors will be able to attach short movies to their submissions which is vital to better illustrate their ideas. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the value of a movie is worth a million.

A young student of the editor’s wife many years ago had a wonderful answer to her exam question: What is a rock? The student’s answer was: “A rock is not a mineral.” True, but defining something by excluding other things is not a very efficient procedure in most cases. Yet the scope of this journal must be so defined if it is to keep current with a burgeoning field. The papers we publish must have an application. This excludes papers that appear to be doing something in optics that can be done simpler, cheaper, and better some other way. It excludes “me too” papers that offer alternative approaches without a hint as to why anyone might care. But it does not exclude theoretical papers. It does not exclude computer models. It does not exclude fundamental science. A suggestive list of topics that will be published follows. Again remember that this list does not limit what we publish.

    New laser technology Imaging and image analysis
    Nonimaging sensors and systems
    Holography and coherent optics
    Components for optical systems and devices
    Designer metamaterials and applications
    Integrated optics
    Fiber optics
    Optical engineering (lens design and manufacture, prisms, beamsplitters, detectors and detector arrays, mounting, alignment, testing, etc.)
    Optical computing and logic
    Non destructive testing
    Laser cutting, welding, heat treatment, etc.
    Interferometry
    Display technologies
    Analysis and applications of optically derived data
    Particle characterization and manipulation
    Biomimetic optics
    Bio inspired systems and components