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Feature Issue of Applied Optics

Light and Color in Nature

Submission Opens: 1 January 2020

Submission Deadline: 17 February 2020

Applied Optics welcomes submissions to a feature issue on �Light and Color in Nature� in conjunction with the International Conference on Light and Color in Nature, which was held in Bar Harbor, ME on 15-18 July 2019. This issue will focus on the interplay of light with the landscape and other naked-eye phenomena. Whereas meeting participants are particularly encouraged to submit their work, the feature issue is open to all contributions in related areas.

This feature issue will explore the wide range of natural optical phenomena that can be seen in our natural environment, and the results of experimental and theoretical investigations undertaken to improve understanding of these phenomena.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Meteorological optical displays from cloud particle refraction, reflection, and diffraction effects (e.g., rainbows, glories, coronas, iridescence, halos, arcs, subsuns, and pillars)
  • Atmospheric refraction and scattering (mirages, the green flash, sky colors, multiple scattering, and polarization)
  • Auroras, airglow, and noctilucent clouds
  • Studies of ice crystals, snowflakes, or water droplets that help explain natural optical phenomena
  • Illusions of perception (Mach bands and the moon illusion)
  • Space optics (the opposition effect and other natural optical phenomena viewable through binoculars or telescopes)
  • Biological colors and iridescence (structure and colors of feathers, insect wings, fish scales, etc.)
  • The use of electronic imaging or sensors to enhance understanding of visual optical phenomena
  • Computer simulation of atmospheric colors and light scattering
  • Optics in art and history
  • Laboratory observation of any of the foregoing or related effects
  • Theoretical developments related to these effects
  • Quantitatively supported photographic and naked-eye observations

All submissions need to present original, previously unpublished work and will be subject to the normal standards and peer review processes of the journal. The standard Applied Optics Publication Charges will apply to all published articles. To be eligible for publication, an expanded conference paper needs to add value to the original conference proceedings and the conference paper number must be included in the cover letter at submission. Please see OSA's guidelines on expanded conference papers for details.

Please prepare manuscripts according to the author instructions for submission to Applied Optics and submit through OSA's electronic submission system, specifying from the drop-down menu that the manuscript is for the feature issue on Light and Color in Nature.

Feature Editors

Charles Adler, St. Mary�s College of Maryland, USA (Lead Editor)
Laura Bagge, Air Force Research Lab, USA
Alex Haußmann, Micro-Epsilon GmbH, Germany