OSA Author Style Guide
JOSA A, JOSA B, AO, OL, JON
To promote efficiency and in conformance with standard journal style, OSA has changed some of its style requirements. Adherence to this style guide is essential for efficient review and publication of submissions. Additional information and templates for MS Word & WordPerfect and LaTeX & REVTeX are also available. See the Authors tab on each journal's homepage for general information for authors.
| Page layout | Abstract | References | Tables |
| Title | OCIS Codes | Internet links | English |
| Author names | Equations | Figures | Page proofs |
| Affiliations | Sci. notation | Use of color | Multimedia |
| Funding Sources |
1. Page Layout and Title Page
Double space the entire manuscript, including title, abstract, references, figure captions, and tables. The pages should be sized for U.S. letter paper with ample margins (at least 2.5 cm) all around. Beginning with the title page, number pages consecutively, including tables and list of figure captions. Font size should be 11 or 12 pt.
The title should be concise but informative. Avoid beginning with an article or a preposition. The words "new" or "novel" should be avoided in the title and the text for legal reasons. 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.
Joseph Richardson,1,* Antoinette Wrighton,2
and Jennifer Martin2,3
1Department of Peer Review, Optical Society of America,
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, USA
2Department of Editorial Services, Optical Society of America,
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, USA
3Currently with the Department of Electronic Journals, Optical Society of America,
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, USA
*Corresponding author: xyx@osa.org
Theabstract 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.
Between two and six OCIS Codes should be provided to help with indexing. The codes should be entered as part of the electronic submission process and should also be listed on the manuscript below the abstract. Aside from indexing purposes, we use OCIS keywords to aid us in matching your paper to reviewers. The OCIS index is formatted with top-level categories and subtopics. A full-text search of the OCIS Codes is available.
2. Mathematical and Scientific Notation
A. Displayed Equations
Equations should be punctuated and aligned to show structure and should be numbered at the right. Ample space should be provided above and below to allow for copy marking:
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.
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., ejkl) 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 (α, cos, ∫...dx, kout).
Multiplication. In general, close up multiplied terms (pypx); use × if multiplication sign is essential (1 × 10 2) or for continuation in displayed equations. Use a centered dot only for scalar product (
).
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 GBytes).
Metric System. The S.I. 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
OSA now uses bracketed, numerical reference callouts [1]. References 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].
When in-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 at the back with references as an endnote.
When compiling your references, be sure to include the titles of articles. All the journals, including Optics Letters, require this information before a paper can be sent to peer review.
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.
OSA InfoBase and online journals allow export of references in BibTeX, RIS, RTF, and plain text formats. See the templates page for BibTex and EndNote tools.
Journal paper
1. C. van Trigt, "Visual system-response functions and estimating reflectance," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 14, 741–755 (1997).
Book
2. T. Masters, Practical Neural Network Recipes in C++ (Academic, 1993).
Chapter in a book
3. B. L. Shoop, A. H. Sayles, and D. M. Litynski, "New devices for optoelectronics: smart pixels," in Handbook of Fiber Optic Data Communications, C. DeCusatis, D. Clement, E. Maass, and R. Lasky, eds. (Academic, 1997), pp. 705–758.
Paper in a published conference proceedings
4. R. E. Kalman,"Algebraic aspects of the generalized inverse of a rectangular matrix," in Proceedings of Advanced Seminar on Generalized Inverse and Applications, M. Z. Nashed, ed. (Academic, 1976), pp. 111–124.
Paper published in an OSA conference proceedings
5. R. Craig and B. Gignac, "High-power 980-nm pump lasers," in Optical Fiber Communication Conference, Vol. 2 of 1996 OSA Technical Digest Series (Optical Society of America, 1996), paper ThG1.
Paper in an unpublished conference proceedings
6. D. Steup and J. Weinzierl, "Resonant THz-meshes," presented at the Fourth International Workshop on THz Electronics, Erlangen-Tennenlohe, Germany, 5–6 September 1996.
SPIE proceedings
7. S. K. Griebel M. Richardson, K. E. Devenport, and H. S. Hinton, "Experimental performance of an ATM-based buffered hyperplane CMOSSEED smart pixel array," Proc. SPIE 3005, 254-264 (1997).
IEEE proceedings
8. T. Darrel and K. Wohn, "Pyramid based depth from focus," in Proceedings of IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (IEEE, 1988), pp. 504–509.
Paper accepted for publication
9. D. W. Diehl and T. D. Visser, "Phase singularities of the longitudinal field components in the focal region of a high-aperture optical system," J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, doc. ID 56789 (posted 11 November 2005, in press).
Manuscript in preparation
10. J. Q. Smith, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA, and K. Marshall are preparing a manuscript to be called "Optical aspects in liquid crystals."
Personal communication
11. J. Richardson, Department of Peer Review, Optical Society of America, 2010 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20036 (personal communication, 2001).
Internet links
12. A. G. Ramm, "Invisible obstacles," http://www.arxiv.org/abs/math-ph/0608034.
4. Figures and Tables
A. Figures
Fig. 1. Sample multipanel
Figures will normally be reduced to one column width (8.4 cm) and should be prepared accordingly. If a particular figure should not be reduced, a note to that effect should be included with the figure. Figures should be numbered consecutively in the order of appearance and citation in the text. Be sure to cite every figure. Handwritten lettering and low-quality computer graphics are not acceptable. Electronic files should be sized as they will appear in the journal and should be accompanied by high-quality laser prints. Files should have a resolution of 600 dpi.
Figure captions must be set in a double-spaced list on a separate page or pages , placed before the figures, for use by the compositor.
Read more explicit information on Electronic Art Submission Guidelines.
Color Illustrations
Color Art Online Only (free to authors, but strict adherence to guidelines required)
Reproduction of color art in the online PDF version of published papers is now offered as a free service to authors. To take advantage of this service, guidelines must be strictly adhered to. There is a "no bounce" policy: when color artwork does not meet the stated production requirements, we will process the artwork as black and white for both print and online.
Color Art in Print (author pays)
Color illustrations can be printed in OSA journals; however, it is necessary that the author's institution or funding agency defray the cost of color printing. Authors who choose to include color illustrations will be billed according to these charges:
- $650 for the first piece of color
- + $325 for each additional piece
- + cost of color reprints, if applicable
Note that one figure may contain several pieces; each piece must be processed separately. For example, an author who publishes a paper with three pieces of color art would be charged $650 + $325 + $325 for the color art, for a subtotal of $1300. This is in addition to applicable page charges. Any figures that are printed in color will also appear in color online. The charge for color reprints depends on the article length. Payment for color reprints is made to Sheridan Press.
Waivers for printed color will not be granted. Authors who cannot pay color charges must use black and white figures or submit art files that meet requirements for free color online-only.
B. Tables
Tables must be numbered and be typed on separate pages. Tables with multiple parts should be split into separate numbered tables [not Table 1(a), Table 1(b), etc.]. The table title, which should be brief, goes above the table. Detailed explanations or table footnotes should be typed 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 used. Note that tables are usually typeset, not scanned (tables cannot be electronically reduced in size).
5. Funding Sources
Please identify all appropriate funding sources by name and contract number in the Acknowledgment section.
6. Final Remarks
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.
Note that Optics Letters has a limit of three printed pages; a page estimate will be determined during review, and if a paper exceeds this limit, it must be shortened before the paper is accepted. If the page proof is over the three-page limit, the proof must be shortened before the paper can be assigned to a final issue. To understand how OSA estimates final article length, review the Guidelines on Manuscript Length.
Authors will receive page proofs of their papers. Corrected proofs should be returned the OSA Editorial Department as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours of receipt, to avoid publication delays.
Additional Resources
The following additional resources may be helpful to authors. For spelling, OSA follows Merriam-Webster (Collegiate). Our editorial style is based on the AIP Style Manual.
