Integrated photonics has become a key enabling technology for modern optical systems, allowing complex photonic functions to be implemented on compact, scalable, and energy-efficient platforms. By integrating light sources, waveguides, modulators, detectors, and other components on a single chip and by enabling efficient interfacing with optical fibers, integrated photonics is reshaping a wide range of applications: from optical communications and data centers to sensing, signal processing, and emerging quantum technologies. Fiber-based technologies remain a foundational element of these systems, providing low-loss transmission, packaging compatibility, and seamless connectivity between integrated photonic circuits and large-scale optical networks. Over the past decade, the field has advanced rapidly, driven by progress in device design, fabrication techniques, and material platforms. Innovations such as high-density optical interconnects, heterogeneous and hybrid integration, fiber-to-chip coupling strategies, and subwavelength engineering have significantly expanded the functionality and performance of photonic integrated circuits. At the same time, the ability to exploit linear and nonlinear optical effects on chip and within optical fibers has opened new opportunities for signal generation, processing, and manipulation within highly integrated systems.
This Research Topic aims to capture recent progress and emerging directions in integrated photonics, with a focus on technologies that enable higher performance, greater scalability, and new on-chip and fiber-integrated functionalities. Contributions are encouraged that address novel device concepts, advanced design and optimization strategies, innovative fabrication approaches, and the use of established and emerging material platforms. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, on-chip and fiber-based optical interconnects, linear and nonlinear photonic devices, multimode and periodic structures, optical antennas, fiber–chip interfaces, and the integration of photonics with electronic and optoelectronic components.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspective papers that provide new insights into the development and application of integrated and fiber-enabled photonic technologies. Submissions may present theoretical studies, numerical modeling, or experimental demonstrations, and should contribute to a clearer understanding of current challenges and future opportunities in this rapidly evolving field.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Conceptual Analysis
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.
Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
