With Light: Science & Applications (LSA) approaching its second anniversary, the new-born journal, co-published by Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) and Nature Publishing Group (NPG), has ushered a brand new milestone. Light: Science & Applications was accepted by Thomson Reuters for Science Citation Index (SCI) on October, 2013. This breakthrough is attributed to all the outstanding work from authors, readers, editors, reviewers and staff from CIOMP and NPG, and this further promotes Light: Science & Applications in the research community of optics. When the joy of New Year is embracing us, on behalf of the editorial board of Light: Science & Applications, we would like to deliver our deep gratitude to all of you accompanying Light: Science & Applications towards its success. We sincerely appreciate you for your continuous effort and strong support!

Since the launching of this journal, the goal aims to publish high-quality papers in optics and to establish an international platform for academic exchange, collaboration and innovation. During the past one and a half years, we can proudly proclaim that our published papers are making significant impact in the research community of optics. Meanwhile, several international conferences were already held in the name of Light. With leading experts invited to be keynote speakers, scientists from all over the world gather together to disseminate and exchange their cutting-edge research in optics. As an example of success, the paper on the first warm-white LED was published in LSA, followed by a front-page report from National Science Foundation in the USA. In Vol. 499, Issue 7459 of Nature 2013, an article published in LSA was highlighted along with articles published in Science and Cell.

LSA is becoming an international academic platform in the research community of optics. Researchers from 27 countries and regions contributed 179 manuscripts (Figure 1), and 79 papers from 18 countries and regions were accepted for publications in LSA, covering all areas in the scope of LSA (Figure 2). In addition, recently the editorial board invited another four new members among leading experts in the world (Figure 3).

Figure 1
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Distribution of submitted papers.

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Figure 2
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Distribution of accepted papers.

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Figure 3
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Distribution of editorial board members.

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The current accomplishments of LSA are attributed to work and support from many aspects. Firstly, the editorial board of Light: Science & Applications, led by Professor Jianlin Cao as the editor-in-chief (EIC) from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Professor Tianhong Cui from the University of Minnesota in the USA and Dr. Stefan Kaierle from the Laser Center Hannover in Germany as executive editors-in-chief, is responsible for a strict quality control of articles. Through initial check by the editorial office and preliminary review by an EIC, a manuscript is handed to an editor, who identifies 3–5 experts for careful peer reviews. Currently, registered reviewers are accumulated to more than 8000 in optics. Moreover, editors and editorial staff passionately promote LSA wherever possible. Secondly, NPG is dedicated to the publication media, marketing and dissemination of LSA. With NPG’s rich publishing experience, LSA conquered difficulties and obstacles that may hinder an infant LSA. Through e-mail campaign and others from NPG, LSA obtained very high visibility and credibility. In addition, NPG frequently highlight LSA to global audience on nature.com. Thirdly, the editorial staff members are very diligent to their daily work, ensuring the high quality of production. The editorial office is rooted in CIOMP, where is renowned for the most comprehensive research institution on optics in China and ‘the cradle of the Chinese optics’. LSA tends to win more and more support for its professional operation.

As the first open access journal in physics category that NPG has co-published in China, we care more about constructing an open environment to enhance the impact of research papers and to make readers easier to access complete research information. The goal is to ensure that the academic outcomes of authors can be highly valued and fully exhibited in LSA. You will find several versions of manuscript text, high-resolution separated figures, fully elaborated supplementary files, and other forms such as movies, through which the publications are more vivid. As editors-in-chief, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our editors and staff members for their highly diligent and efficient work!

In the future, we will well define three identities in LSA. As an academic publication, LSA is devoted to reporting the most frontier work in optics with fair and rapid peer-review, and paving a way for researcher for their more interaction and collaboration. As a social media, LSA is committed to filling the gap between the rapid research in optics and the laggard publishing period. As a production of numerous scholars, LSA promises to be an innovation platform, promoting research in optics to the next level, which is increasingly crucial in human civilization.

With the solid foundation of CIOMP, with years of publication experience from CIOMP and NPG, with our diligent and efficient editorial work and with the achievements attained in such a short time, we are convinced that Light: Science & Applications will be blooming in the garden of optics and phonics. We also hold faith that Light: Science & Applications will enormously inspire new ideas and innovative research in optics and photonics.