Advances in Tunable Photonics and Photonic Sensors

Dear Colleagues,

Photonics, which uses light to perform functions that traditionally fell within the electrical domain, is regarded as a promising complementary technology to electronics and has developed rapidly over the past half century. Light–matter interaction is pervasive throughout numerous photonic phenomena. Through manipulating light–matter interactions, various useful photonic functions can be realized, especially tunable photonics and photonic sensors. Tunable photonic devices and systems not only add upgradability to standard photonic applications like communication and imaging but also enable many emerging applications such as programmable photonic integrated circuits, quantum information processing, neuromorphic computing, etc. Compared with conventional electrical sensors, photonic sensors possess advantages including high sensitivity, label-free and real-time detection, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. In particular, spectroscopic photonic sensors provide inherent selectivity and strong multiplexed detection capabilities.

The research interest in tunable photonics and photonic sensors is flourishing and the community is booming. Novel designs, mechanisms, functionalities, and applications are continuously being presented. In light of this, this Special Issue seeks to showcase research articles, communications, and reviews over a wide range of relevant topics including, but not limited to:

• Tunable photonics based on integration with reconfigurable structures, e.g., MEMS/NEMS;
• Tunable photonics through the utilization of tunable materials, e.g., 2D materials, phase change materials, flexible materials;
• New designs and new physics of tunable photonics;
• Tunable photonics for novel applications in communication, signal processing, computing, imaging, display, sensing, etc.;
• Photonic chemical, biological, and physical sensors with novel designs, mechanisms, and applications;
• Spectrometers and spectroscopic sensors;
• Integrated photonic sensing systems for lab-on-a-chip;
• Integration of photonics with micro/nanofluidics;
• Advanced passive and active photonics, plasmonics, optoelectronics, optomechanics, and optofluidics.

Dr. Yiming Ma
Prof. Dr. Chengkuo Lee
Guest Editors

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