D-Track: Devices

D1: Advanced Packaging, Interfacing, and System Integration

This track covers technologies that enable photonic chips and components to physically and functionally connect with fibers, electronics, heat sinks, or other photonic systems, focusing on assembly, reliability, and scalability rather than device physics.

· Fiber-to-chip coupling techniques (grating couplers, edge couplers, lensed fibers, spot-size converters)

· Co-packaged optics (CPO) and near-packaged optical I/O for AI/ML accelerators and data centers

· 2.5D/3D integration, flip-chip bonding, silicon interposers, and wafer-level packaging

· Thermal management solutions for high-power photonic integrated circuits

· Standardized interfaces (e.g., COBO, OIF, IEEE pluggable form factors)

· Automated alignment, testing, and yield improvement in volume manufacturing

D2: Integrated Photonic Circuits and Heterogeneous Platforms

This track addresses monolithic or hybrid photonic systems where multiple optical functions are co-realized on a single chip or platform to enable on-chip signal processing, routing, or computation.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in Si, InP, SiN, thin-film LiNbO₃, polymers, or hybrid platforms

· Reconfigurable circuits: MZI meshes, microring filter banks, programmable delay lines

· On-chip applications: optical switching fabrics, neuromorphic/photonics computing, reservoir computing, analog accelerators

· Heterogeneous integration of lasers, modulators, and detectors on a common substrate

 · Electronic-photonic co-design (e.g., CMOS drivers integrated with modulators)

D3: Active Optoelectronic Devices

This track focuses on discrete or chip-scale devices that require electrical power to generate, modulate, amplify, or detect optical signals.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Lasers: DFB, DBR, VCSELs (850/1310/1550 nm), photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers (PCSELs), quantum dot lasers, nanolasers

· Modulators: high-speed (>100 GBd) silicon, plasmonic, thin-film LiNbO₃, or polymer-based devices

· Detectors: PIN, APD, SPAD, superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), graphene/2D-material photodiodes

· Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs), electro-absorption modulators (EAMs), and EMLs

· Novel operating principles: mode-locked lasers with spectral reconstruction, self-injection locking

D4: Passive Photonic Components Across Domains

This track encompasses non-powered optical elements that manipulate light propagation, unified across fiber, free-space, and planar platforms based on function, not form.

Particular topics of interest include:

·  Fiber-based: fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), fused couplers, circulators, hollow-core fiber segments used as delay lines or filters

·  Free-space: metasurfaces, diffractive optical elements (DOEs), beam shapers, polarization gratings for LiDAR or FSO

·  Planar: arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), multimode interferometers (MMIs), unpowered microrings, photonic crystal cavities

· Specialty passive functions: polarization controllers, mode converters, dispersion compensators

N-Track: Networks

N1: Network, System and Service Innovations

This track solicits original contributions that address imminent and near-future network trends, services, and deployment needs for service providers, content providers and large enterprises. We welcome practical and experimentally validated solutions spanning terrestrial, subsea and non-terrestrial domains (for example, space- or underwater-based links), as well as solutions for storage-area and enterprise networks. Work on fiber-based sensing or monitoring that is directly applied to the operation, optimization or troubleshooting of optical networks should be submitted here.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Field demonstrations, pilots and large-scale trials of optical network technologies (including work in non-traditional wavebands)

· Network planning, deployment methods and installation best practices, including QoS and performance evaluation

· Operational issues for open and disaggregated network deployments, including multi-vendor interoperability testing and validation

· Operational aspects of emerging network services, e.g., SDN, NFV, management, monitoring and analytics (including AIOps)

· Practical uses of ML/AI for optical network operation, fault management and capacity planning (demo or experimental results preferred)

· Fiber sensing and distributed monitoring applied to network optimization and condition awareness (e.g., DAS, OTDR, field trials)

· Use of coherent transceivers for sensing, telemetry or in-network measurement (including experimental results)

· Converged fixed–mobile infrastructures, including 5G/6G transport and edge/multi-access edge computing integration

· Architectures and transport to support ultra-high-bandwidth video, immersive VR/AR, and other low-latency media services

· Timing, synchronization and clock-distribution techniques deployed over optical infrastructures

· Spaceborne and other non-terrestrial optical network technologies and their network-level implications

N2: Photonics for Data Center and Computing Systems

This track seeks original research and demonstrations of photonic technologies tailored to data-center, high-performance computing and AI-accelerated computing environments. Submissions should emphasize validated devices, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), chiplets and system-level demonstrations that show clear applicability to Datacom and computing workloads. Topics range from photonic interconnects and transceivers to switching fabrics and photonic architectures for AI and accelerator systems.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Experimental demonstrations of programmable, configurable or reconfigurable photonic hardware and architectures for computing workloads

· Optical computing elements and accelerator implementations for AI, with emphasis on validated PICs/chiplets and system-integration results

· Photonic matrix–vector multiply engines, tensor-processing elements and architecture-level studies for machine learning workloads

· Photonic computational building blocks (e.g., on-chip weighting, photonic memory, nonlinear activation implementations) and their system integration

· Packaged or prototype photonics for interconnects, transceiver modules, switching and storage links in data-center environments

· Photonic-enabled system disaggregation across SoC, board, rack and system scales for resource pooling and flexible orchestration

· On-chip, on-board and board-to-board optical interface technologies designed for accelerated computing platforms

N3: Optical Network Architectures, Control and Management

This track invites contributions on the architectural evolution, control planes and management frameworks for access, metro and core optical networks, including inter-data-center connectivity. We are interested in data-plane designs as well as control, orchestration and management mechanisms validated through experiments, simulation, emulation or analytic study. Work addressing edge- or fog-computing integration for access networks is more appropriate for the Data Center / Computing track (N2).

Particular topics of interest include:

· Architectural designs for access, metro, core and inter-data-center networks supporting new services and traffic models

· SDN, NFV and programmable control frameworks for optical and multi-layer networks

· Open, disaggregated metro and core optical network designs and operational case studies

· Optical transport approaches for fixed–wireless convergence, including optical X-haul for mobile networks

· Elastic optical networking, flexible-grid approaches and advanced spectrum management techniques

· Scalable control and management solutions for pluggable optics and IP-over-WDM environments

· Space-division multiplexing, multi-band fiber systems and other fiber-capacity scaling architectures

· Control and architectural considerations for non-terrestrial optical networks (satellites, HAPS, drones) and space-terrestrial integration

· Inter-satellite optical link technologies and their role in next-generation (e.g., 6G) networks

· High-degree optical node designs for multi-fiber/core/band connectivity and modular growth

· Use of AI/ML, data analytics and digital-twin models (including foundation models) for network design, control and lifecycle management

· Network planning, optimization and techno-economic evaluations for optical infrastructures

· Operational topics including energy-efficiency, security, service assurance, reliability, protection and restoration mechanisms

· Dynamic optical networking, service orchestration and resource allocation strategies

· Open, intent-based APIs and new data models (e.g., YANG/NETCONF/RESTCONF) for metro and core network programmability

N4: Optical Access and Last-Mile Networks

This track targets advances in access network architectures, systems and protocols that deliver services to residential and business customers and support mobile backhaul/fronthaul, IoT and sensor-network use cases. Submissions may address technology, operations and business models that improve access robustness, energy efficiency, virtualization and orchestration. Control and management frameworks that span access and metro domains should be considered for the Architecture & Management track (N3).

Particular topics of interest include:

· High-throughput optical access technologies (coherent access, advanced modulation, multiplexing, DSP, FEC, ML-enhanced PHY, etc.)

· Access network architectures, services and application examples for residential and enterprise markets

· Optical X-haul and access topologies enabling mobile, IoT and sensor connectivity

· Solutions for heterogeneous signal transport over access fiber to support future mobile and converged services

· Operational aspects and management of PON variants (TDM-PON, TWDM, WDM-PON and others)

· Reliability, protection strategies and security mechanisms for access infrastructure

· Virtualized PON architectures, SDN/NFV control approaches and operational automation for access networks

· Low-latency transport and protocol support for time-sensitive fronthaul and user-plane services

· ML/AI applications for access network optimization, fault detection and traffic forecasting

· Indoor optical wireless systems and their integration with fiber access

· Energy-efficient architectures, protocols and hardware for access networks

· Hybrid-fiber-coax (HFC) access innovations and use cases

· Converged access–metro and fixed–mobile integration at protocol, control, and physical layers

· Optical LAN technologies and novel local-area applications

· Techniques for increasing capacity and sharing resources across multiple dimensions (time, wavelength, spatial, polarization)

· Access architectures that enable edge computing and distributed processing

N5: Industry Perspectives and Network-Centric Technology Evolution (Invited Program Only)

This track brings together industry-driven views on the evolution of optical networks, integrating perspectives from network operators, data-center operators, system vendors, component manufacturers, and market analysts. The focus is on how technologies, architectures, standards, and business strategies jointly shape near- to mid-term network deployments across access, metro, core, and data-center environments. Contributions should emphasize practical insights, deployment experience, technology roadmaps, and the interaction between market forces and network innovation.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Industry outlooks and market trends impacting optical networks, from access and data-center networks to core and inter-data-center infrastructure

· Operator and service-provider perspectives on network modernization, automation, and business-driven evolution

· Technology requirements and deployment priorities for network, cloud, and content providers

· Standards activities, interoperability trends, and their influence on network architectures and product ecosystems

· Disaggregation, open networking, and IP/optical convergence strategies in operational networks

· Data-center networking trends, including high-speed connectivity, DCI architectures, and AI-driven infrastructure demands

· Impact of AI on network design, operation, and data-center integration, both inside and outside the data center

· Progression of optical transmission, switching, and pluggable optics technologies and their role in scalable network deployments

· Energy efficiency, sustainability, and cost-performance trade-offs in optical networking and data-center systems

· Network orchestration, control, and automation frameworks, including SDN/NFV and AI-assisted operations

· Engineering, deployment, and commercialization of next-generation bandwidth products and services

· Monetization models and business opportunities enabled by advanced optical network capabilities

· Evolution of access networks, PON technologies, and their role in fixed–mobile convergence

· Optical support for mobile network evolution beyond 5G, including B5G/6G transport and fronthaul

· Emerging network-relevant technologies, including quantum communications and quantum key distribution, from an industry and deployment perspective

· Industrialization of photonic devices and subsystems for network applications, including manufacturing scalability, reliability, power efficiency, and sustainability considerations

T-Track: Transmission

T1: Short-Reach Transmission Systems for Data-Center, Access, and Mobile Networks

This track focuses on optical interconnect systems related to emerging short-reach optical transmissions in data-centers, high-performance computing (HPC), and access networks, to showcase how optical transmission technologies can win over main-stream non-optical ones.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Fiber-to-the-X and passive optical networks

· Intra data-center interconnect networks

· Optical networks for high performance computing

· Backhaul, midhaul and fronthaul networks for mobile networks

· Parallel networks and interconnects

· Photonics for cloud and low latency services

· Modulation and detection subsystems for short-reach networks (IM/DD, Coherent-lite, and other technologies)

· Optical switching and routing for short-reach networks

T2: Optical Transmission Systems

This track targets experimental demonstrations, numerical simulations, and theoretical study of optical transmission systems over fiber channels of a long distance, to further improve performances of the existing optical transmission technologies.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Demonstrations of optical transmissions using novel fibers, devices, and multiplexing techniques

· Demonstrations of optical transmissions using novel signal modulation techniques, signal processing, and subsystems

· Submarine links and cable deployment of various fibers

· Novel modeling, analysis, design, and implementation of optical transmission systems

· Capacity, reach, flexibility limits of optical transmission systems

· Optical performance monitoring

· Physical impairment mitigation techniques

T3: Subsystems and Digital Signal Processing for Optical Communications

This track focuses on optical and electronic subsystems for optical transmissions. It covers subsystem aspects and innovative technologies of modulation, multiplexing, coding, DSP, and novel transceiver structures, which can significantly enhance overall transmission performances. 

Particular topics of interest include:

· Modulation and detection subsystems (IM/DD or coherent)

· Multiplexing and demultiplexing subsystems (wavelength, space, mode, polarizations, etc.)

· Digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters, serializers and de-serializers

· Novel digital signal processing technologies in optical transmission systems

· Real-time DSP implementation in hardware

· Analogue-based and digital-based machine-learning techniques for optical communication

· System-Level demonstrations and characterizations of novel transceiver subsystems

T4: Free-Space Transmission and Communication Systems

This track focuses on photonic technologies that can realize a cost-effective platform for wireless communication using photonics, and related subsystems for building a better communication link.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Satellite laser communication

· Free-space optical communications for intra data-center links

· Free-space optical communications in low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles

· Underwater optical communications

· Acquisition, pointing, and tracking techniques

· Turbulence mitigation strategies for terrestrial and underwater optical links

· Optical beamforming technologies

NP-Track: Non-telecom Photonics

NP1: Fiber-Based and Free-Space Sensing

· Fiber-based optical sensing methods, interrogators, and systems

· Integrated sensing and communications systems (ISAC)

· Field-trials on optical fiber sensing systems

· Lidar and optical remote sensing

NP2: Microwave Photonic Devices and Systems

· 6G technologies with radio-over-fiber

· Microwave photonics systems and subsystems

· Optical analog and digital signal processing

· Millimeter-wave and THz photonics signal generation/detection

· THz wireless communication and sensing systems

NP3: Quantum Devices, Systems, Networking and Computing

This track focuses on photonic-based quantum systems, with particular focus on quantum communication, including the optical devices, systems, and protocols to enable quantum communication, quantum information generation, distribution, and processing.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Quantum Communication Systems and Quantum Key Distribution

· Entanglement Routing and Quantum Networking

· Multipartite Entangled States for Quantum Networking and Quantum Computing

· Quantum Computing and Quantum Computing Interconnects

· Photonic Integrated Circuit Implementations of Quantum Subsystems, Systems, Networks

· Quantum Random Number Generators

· Quantum Single or Entangled-Photon Sources, Detectors

· Photonic Devices in Support of Qubit Modalities (ions, defects in solids, single atoms, others)

· Optics for Quantum Transduction, Cryogenic Optical Interconnects

· Quantum Memories, Photonic Quantum Gates, and Quantum Repeaters

· Hybrid Quantum and Classical Systems/Networks and Teleportation

· Lab Demonstrations, Field Trials, Use Cases, Certification and Standardization

· Quantum Protocol Implementations

· Free Space and Satellite-Based Quantum Communications

NP4: Materials, Nanofabrication, and Characterization Techniques

This track highlights foundational innovations in materials synthesis, nanoscale fabrication, and metrology that enable next-generation photonic devices for sensing/display/imaging/energy/biomedical applications.

Particular topics of interest include:

· Novel materials: transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), perovskites, epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials, 2D heterostructures

· Fabrication: inverse design, topology optimization, atomic-layer etching, self-assembly, laser writing

· Characterization: propagation loss measurement, chromatic/modal dispersion extraction, nonlinear coefficient (γ) calibration, mode field profiling

· Modeling of light-matter interaction at sub-wavelength scales