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Optics Express Online Style Guide

Additional information and templates for MS Word and LaTeX are also available. The online style guide below also provides details on manuscript preparation.

Attention Optics Express Authors

Optics Express is making significant changes to its production process by creating archival-quality XML along with the PDF output. XML is the industry standard for producing and archiving scientific journal articles and is used in producing all other OSA journals. Having full-text XML will allow Optics Express to be indexed more accurately and completely in MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and other databases; it will also allow the journal to meet its archival obligations and to prepare for new services such as full-text semantic search and repurposing of content.

In order to prevent delays in production, we ask that authors carefully adhere to the following new guidelines:

• Word instead of LaTeX. OSA strongly encourages authors to submit papers in MS Word rather than in LaTeX. All LaTeX submissions will be converted into Word to enable XML tagging. LaTeX submissions will incur delays in production and will be subject to the layout limitations of MS Word.
• Author listing. All authors must be grouped together using superscripts to callout each affiliation. Hard returns (Enter key) must be used to separate each individual affiliation. Soft-returns (Shift + Enter key) should be use for line breaks within a single paragraph.

• Main text. Authors must identify equations and figures in the text by inserting Fig. or Eq. before the number. All references, figures, tables, and equations must be called out in the text.
• Figures. Authors must use one image file per figure. Figures need to be inserted as objects that are fixed and move with the text, not as floating objects. Figures should never be placed in a table environment.
• Tables. Authors must use Word's Table editor to insert tables. Authors must not import tables from Excel. All content for each table should be in a single Word table (do not split content for a single table across multiple Word tables). Any content that is not a table should never be placed in a table environment (e.g., figures and equations).
• Equations. OSA does not accept equations built using the Word 2007 Equation Builder. All equations should be created in MathType (or the Microsoft Equation editor from Design Science). See Instructions for Users of Word 2007/DOCX for details. We strongly encourage authors to use MathType 6.5. Note that LaTeX users can type LaTeX code directly into MathType for rendering in Word. Equations should never be placed in a table environment.

Adherence to the above guidelines will significantly expedite the production of your paper.

1. Layout and Title Page Elements

Page layout for MS Word should be as follows for estimating final length: Body text: 10-pt Times New Roman. Paper size, U.S. letter. Margins: 1-in. top, 1.625-in. left, right, and bottom. The LaTeX style file will provide proper layout for TeX files.

The title should be concise but informative. Avoid beginning with an article, a preposition, or the words "new" or "novel." Titles may be edited by the publisher to facilitate computer search.

Author names should be given in full and consistent form to facilitate indexing. Every effort should be made to keep author names consistent from one paper to the next as they appear within OSA publications. Affiliations and postal addresses for all authors should appear on the title page. All authors must be grouped together using superscripts to callout each affiliation. Hard-returns (Enter key) must be used to separate each individual affiliation. Soft-returns (Shift + Enter key) should be use for line breaks within a single paragraph. If all authors share one affiliation, superscript numbers are not needed. The corresponding author will have an asterisk indicating footnote. Abbreviations should not be used. E-mail address for the corresponding author should be given.

The abstract should be limited to approximately 100 words. It should be an explicit summary of the paper that states the problem, the methods used, and the major results and conclusions. If another publication is referenced in the abstract, abbreviated information (e.g., authors, journal, volume number, first page, year) must be given in the abstract itself without a reference number. The first reference cited in the main text will be [1]. Note that the combination of abstract and title must be an adequate indicator of the content of the paper, since it will stand alone in electronic bibliographic databases and printed abstracting journals.

OCIS codes should be provided to help with indexing. OCIS codes can be selected during upload and are also available at http://www.opticsinfobase.org/submit/ocis/.

2.  Mathematical and Scientific Notation

2.A.   Math

All equations should be created in MathType (or the Microsoft Equation editor from Design Science). OSA does not accept equations built using the Word 2007 Equation Builder. See Instructions for Users of Word 2007/DOCX for details. We strongly encourage authors to use MathType 6.5. Note that LaTeX users can type LaTeX code directly into MathType for rendering in Word. Numbered display equations can be labeled manually or with MathType's numbering feature. For TeX, use of standard LaTeX or AMSTeX commands will greatly facilitate production. Please keep all notation and formatting as simple as possible.

2.B.   In-line Math

Simple fractions in in-line math should use parentheses when necessary to avoid ambiguity, for example, to distinguish between 1/(n - 1) and 1/n - 1. In-text fractions should be set on line, not built up. Exceptions to this are proper fractions such as ½, which are better left in this form. Summations and integrals that appear within text such as ½ (n² - 2n)^-1 should have limits placed to the right of the symbol to reduce white space and should not use oversized symbols.

2.C.   General Guidelines on Notation

Notation must be legible, clear, compact, and consistent with standard usage. In general, acronyms should be defined at first use. Adherence to the following guidelines will greatly assist the production process:

Radical Signs. When possible, avoid oversized radical signs by using the notation of a superscript 1/2. For example, change to [(a + b)(a - c)]^1/2.

Exponentials. Avoid tiny superscripts of exponential e (e.g., e^jkl) by using the alternative exp notation, exp(jkl).

Variables and Vectors. Set single-letter variables in italics (k). Set three-vectors in boldface (k). Functions, derivative "d," abbreviations, and multiletter identifiers should be set in roman (plain) type .

Multiplication. In general, close up multiplied terms (p_yp_x); use × if multiplication sign is essential (1 × 10 ²) or for continuation in displayed equations [see Eq. (2) above]. Use raised dot only for scalar product (k · k).

Fences. For simple bracketing the usual order of parentheses and brackets is { [ ( { [ ( · ) ] } ) ] } .

Bit and Byte. The standard abbreviations for bit and byte are b and B, respectively. To avoid confusion, these units should be spelled out in most cases (1 bit, 20 GByte).

Metric System. The metric system is used in OSA journals. If nonmetric units are essential (e.g., for parts specifications), conversion should be given at first mention:  ". . . a ¼-in. bolt (1 in. = 2.54 cm)."

3.   References and Notes

References and Notes should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are first referenced in the body of the paper. Two references [2,3] should be included together, separated by a comma, and three or more consecutive references should be indicated by the bounding numbers and an en dash [1–4].

Each source must have its own reference number.

When on-line reference numbers are essential (e.g., see [1]), it is not necessary to use the words "Reference(s)" or "Ref(s)." except when needed for clarity. Footnotes (notes at the bottom of text pages) are not used in OSA journals. Footnotes should be incorporated into the text or set with references as an endnote.

When reference authors are mentioned in the text, use surnames only (unless further clarity is needed), and use "et al." and first author name when three or more authors are given.

Here are some examples of how to set the most common reference types:

4.   Figures and Multimedia

4.A.   Figures

Figures may be submitted in color or black and white. Authors must use one image file per figure. Figures need to be inserted as objects that are fixed and move with the text, not as floating objects. Figures should never be placed in a table environment. Images and text must be clear and legible for on-screen viewing. Place figures as closely as possible to where they are mentioned in the text. Set each figure in the body of the text above its caption. No part of a figure should go beyond the typing area. The figure should not be embedded inside the text.

Multimedia files may also be included. See guidelines on http://www.opticsexpress.org/submission/multimedia.cfm.

4.B.   Tables

Tables should be numbered and should be set in the body of the manuscript. Authors must use Word's Table editor to insert tables. Authors must not import tables from Excel. All content for each table should be in a single Word table (do not split content for a single table across multiple Word tables). The table title, which should be brief, goes above the table. Detailed explanations or table footnotes should be set directly beneath the table, as shown. Tables should use horizontal rules to delimit the top and bottom of the table and column headings. In general, no other rules should be are used.

5.   Funding Sources

Please identify all appropriate funding sources by name and contract number in the Acknowledgment section.

6.   Final Remarks

Optics Express manuscripts should be uploaded electronically through the OpEx Author Page. Quality of English standards must be met for final acceptance and publication. Note that in some cases copyediting may be required for acceptance. Copyediting services are available from OSA for a fee (contact OpEx staff for details). If a student-level reader might find your English difficult to understand, please have a colleague who is fluent in English edit your paper before you submit it to OSA. Ensure that manuscripts are free of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other errors before submission to OSA.

The following additional resources may be helpful to authors. For spelling, OSA follows the American Heritage College Dictionary. Our editorial style is based on the AIP Style Manual.