Content Types
- Article
- Letter
- Correspondence
- News and Views
- Industry Perspectives
- Book Reviews
- Review
- Progress
- Commentary
Primary research formats
Article
An Article is a substantial novel research study that often involves several techniques or approaches. The main text (excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends) is 2,000–3,000 words. The abstract is 150 words maximum, and is unreferenced. Articles have 4–6 display items (figures and/or tables). An introduction (of up to 500 words) is followed by sections headed Results, Discussion, and Methods. The Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings. References are limited to 50.
Articles include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Articles are peer-reviewed.
Letter
A Letter reports an important novel research result, but is less substantial than an Article. Letters typically occupy four printed journal pages. This format begins with an introductory paragraph (not abstract) of 150 words maximum, summarizing the background, rationale, main results and implications. This paragraph should be referenced, as in Nature style, and should be considered part of the main text, so that any subsequent introductory material avoids too much repetition of the introductory paragraph. The text is limited to 1500 words, excluding the introductory paragraph, Methods, references and figure legends. References are limited to 30. Letters should have no more than 3–5 display items (figures and/or tables). Letters are not divided by headings, except for the Methods section. Letters include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Letters are peer-reviewed.
Other formats
Correspondence
Correspondence (formerly Letters to the Editor) is a flexible format that may include anything of interest to the journal's readers, from policy debates to announcements to 'matters arising' from research papers. Correspondence should never be more than one printed page, and usually much less. The number of references should not exceed 10 for either the Correspondence or its reply, and article titles are omitted from the reference list. Titles for correspondence are supplied by the editors.
In cases where a correspondence is critical of a previous research paper, the authors of the criticized paper are normally given the option of publishing a brief reply. Criticism of opinions or other secondary matter does not involve an automatic right of reply.
News and Views
News and Views are by prior arrangement only, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals. They may be linked to articles in Nature Photonics or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. News and Views are not peer-reviewed.
Industry Perspectives
Industry perspectives are short (1 or 2 pages) articles written by authors working within industry. They describe the status and likely impact of a specific photonics technology on an application of wide appeal to the photonics community. They are by prior arrangement only, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals. Industry perspectives are not peer-reviewed.
Book Reviews
Book Reviews are by prior arrangement only, although suggestions are welcome. Book reviews are not peer-reviewed.
Review
A Review article is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. Reviews are normally 3,000–4,000 words, and typically include 4–6 display items (figures, tables or boxes); illustrations are strongly encouraged. References are limited to 100, with exceptions possible in special cases. Citations should be selective. The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.
Reviews include a competing financial interests statement. Received/accepted dates are not included. Reviews are always peer-reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.
Progress
Progress articles are commissioned to cover developing fields that might not yet be mature enough for a review article. Progress articles are up to 2,500 words in length, with up to five display items (figures, tables or boxes). References are limited to 50.
Progress articles include a competing financial interests statement. Received/accepted dates are not included. Progress articles are always peer-reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.
Commentary
Commentary is a very flexible format; Commentaries may be on policy, science and society or purely scientific issues. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. Their length is typically 1–3 pages, although some may be longer. Because the content is variable, the format is also flexible. Commentaries do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). References are limited to 25, and article titles are omitted from the reference list.
Commentaries do not include a formal competing financial interests statement, but authors should note in the text any competing financial interests that are not evident from the affiliation. Commentaries may be peer-reviewed at the editors' discretion.
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