Journal profile · Optics
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
ISSN 0030-3992 · eISSN 1879-2545 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Bimonthly
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY: CAS Zone 2 · Physics & Astronomy (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 5.14; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,230; review about 102 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 2,078 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 2 of Physics & Astronomy in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies, Photonic and Optical Devices and Laser Material Processing Techniques, together about 26.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Electrical and Electronic Engineering. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Optics & Laser Technology aims to provide a vehicle for the publication of a broad range of high quality research and review papers in those fields of scientific and engineering research appertaining to the development and application of the technology of optics and lasers. Papers describing original work in these areas are submitted to rigorous refereeing prior to acceptance for publication.The scope of Optics & Laser Technology encompasses, but is not restricted to, the following areas: •development in all types of lasers •developments in optoelectronic devices and photonics •developments in new photonics and optical concepts •developments in conventional optics, optical instruments and components •techniques of optical metrology, including interferometry and optical fibre sensors •LIDAR and other non-contact optical measurement techniques, including optical methods in heat and fluid flow •applications of lasers to materials processing, optical NDT display (including holography) and optical communication •research and development in the field of laser safety including studies of hazards resulting from the applications of lasers (laser safety, hazards of laser fume) •developments in optical computing and optical information processing •developments in new optical materials •developments in new optical characterization methods and techniques •developments in quantum optics •developments in light assisted micro and nanofabrication methods and techniques •developments in nanophotonics and biophotonics •developments in imaging processing and systemsThe Journal publishes and, from time to time commissions, review articles pertaining to important areas of optical and laser technology. Short communications and technical notes are also published. Short papers for rapid communication of important innovations or observations will receive fast-track treatment.Optics & Laser Technology aims to provide the widest possible coverage of world research and development in its chosen field.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Optics
Editor-in-chief M. SchmidtPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 9 in mainland China (about 16%); most named Mainland China 9, United Kingdom 9, Germany 9, Italy 7, United States 6 (58 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Advanced Fiber Laser TechnologiesPhysics and Astronomy9.9%
- Photonic and Optical DevicesEngineering8.6%
- Laser Material Processing TechniquesEngineering8.1%
- Advanced Fiber Optic SensorsEngineering7.6%
- Solid State Laser TechnologiesEngineering5.4%
- Photonic Crystal and Fiber OpticsEngineering5%
- Additive Manufacturing Materials and ProcessesEngineering4.7%
- Welding Techniques and Residual StressesEngineering4.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Physics & Astronomy Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Physics, Applied | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Physics & Astronomy Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Physics, Applied | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Physics & Astronomy Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Physics, Applied | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 5.14LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 5.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 8.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 8.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.92LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.56LetPub ·
- h-index
- 63LetPub ·
- h-index
- 152OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 7,688OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 4.77OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 11.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 11.86%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,979LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 19,312 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,839 | 483 | 1,016 |
| 2025 | 2,078 | 302 | 8,403 |
| 2024 | 1,739 | 256 | 17,547 |
| 2023 | 1,347 | 191 | 21,600 |
| 2022 | 1,146 | 112 | 23,164 |
| 2021 | 908 | 104 | 24,902 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
102 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 2.1 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 2.1 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 93%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 10 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 48 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 102 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,230 / EUR 3,020 / GBP 2,590 / JPY 400,620 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,470 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Templates
- LaTeX
- Highlights
- Required
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- ISSN
- 0030-3992
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-2545
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY
What CAS zone is OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY is in Zone 2 of Physics & Astronomy, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Optics / Physics, Applied; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Physics & Astronomy. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 5.14; CiteScore 8.4, h-index 152.
How long does peer review take at OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY?
The publisher reports about 102 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 2.1 months. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Templates: LaTeX; Highlights: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY based?
Of the 58 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 9 (about 16%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (9), United Kingdom (9) and Germany (9). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY open access, and what is the APC?
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,230.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .