Journal decision profile

Frontiers in Photonics

Engineering · Physics and Astronomy

Frontiers in Photonics' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4, ranking Q2 in Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics and 1 other subfield. Two-year citation average from OpenAlex data, updated August 2026.

Frontiers MediaSwitzerlandeISSN 2673-6853
Checking system sharing availability.Visit homepage

Bookmark this page — track observed submission-to-acceptance timing, FWCI and field-normalized citation data for this journal in one view.

Journal Metrics Score
i
Journal Metrics ScoreThe raw score is citations received in the latest complete year by works from the two previous years, divided by the number of those works. It is calculated from OpenAlex open data (CC0) and is not a percentage grade.
2026
2.4

Journal Metrics Score 2026 · 2021–2024 window citedness 2.21.

Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceCalendar days between the received and accepted dates reported in recent PubMed records. This interval includes editorial handling and author revisions, so it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
PUBMED

Not available — there are not enough recent PubMed records with both received and accepted dates.

Indicative APC
i
Indicative APCThis journal-level estimate comes from the OpenAlex source record. It is not a verified quote and may exclude taxes, waivers, society discounts, or article-type charges. Check the journal's official website before deciding.
OPENALEX · VERIFY
$2,353

Journal-level estimate only. Verify current charges, taxes, waivers, discounts, and article-type fees with the journal.

Free preview · no sign-in

Does your manuscript fit Frontiers in Photonics?

Paste your title to see which of this journal's published topics it overlaps with. Your title stays in your browser for this preview and is not sent anywhere.

Want ranked journals with fit reasons, risks and a submission strategy instead? See a sample AI report.

At a glance

Journal decision profile

Each spoke is a 0–100 percentile within a comparable journal cohort—not a percentage grade or a single black-box rating.

Relative profile

Metrics ScoreThe raw 2026 Journal Metrics Score is the recent two-year citation average shown above. The radar converts it to a 0–100 cohort percentile: farther out means a higher score than more comparable journals. It is not a percentage grade.iSource outputThe raw rank compares lifetime output inside the journal’s leading-topic source set. The radar then compares that rank position across Decision Profile journals in the same primary OpenAlex field; when that field has too few profiles, it uses the broader profile set. Farther out means relatively more output, not better research quality.iTop 10% shareThe share of recent papers in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield. The radar converts that share to a 0–100 cohort percentile; it does not predict how a new paper will perform.iMedian FWCICitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected citation level for comparable papers; the radar shows its 0–100 cohort percentile.iOutput volumeAverage works published per year in the recent analysis window, converted to a 0–100 cohort percentile. Farther out means the journal publishes more papers; it does not mean those papers are better.i
Cost is intentionally excluded. Missing APC data is never converted to a zero-dollar fee or a fabricated cost score.

Raw values behind the shape

Always visible
Metrics Score
i
Metrics ScoreThe 2026 raw Journal Metrics Score shown above. The bar is its 0–100 percentile within the radar's comparable journal cohort; it is not a percentage score.
2.42026 · OPENALEX
Source output rank
i
Source output rankThis lifetime journal-wide output rank compares works published by the OpenAlex source with sources associated with the journal’s leading topic. More output does not mean higher quality.
#185 / 268LIFETIME OUTPUT
Highly cited papers
i
Highly cited papersShare of recent works in the global top 10% for citations after comparing papers of the same type, publication year, and subfield.
1.7%FIELD-NORMALIZED TOP 10%
Field-normalized impact
i
Field-normalized impactCitation performance of the middle recent paper after field, year, and work type are considered. A raw FWCI of 1.0 is the expected level for comparable work.
0.48MEDIAN FWCI
Submission-to-acceptance
i
Submission-to-acceptanceReceived-to-accepted calendar days from qualified PubMed records. It includes editorial handling and author revisions; it is not time to first decision or pure peer-review time.
—NOT AVAILABLE
Recent output
i
Recent outputAverage works published per year across the complete analysis window. This is a volume measure, not a quality score.
30 / yr2021–2024 AVG
Field-normalized top 10% share1.7%

2 of 118 works · same type, year & subfield

Field-normalized top 1% share0%

0 works · same type, year & subfield

Median FWCI0.48×

Below field-year expectation

Source output rank#185

of 268 topic-associated OpenAlex sources by lifetime output

What does Median FWCI mean?

FWCI compares papers with the same publication year, type, and field. 1.0 is the world average; above 1.0 is above expectation. This journal's median is 0.48, so its typical recent paper runs about 52% below its field benchmark.

What does Top 10% Share mean?

1.7% of recent papers rank in the global top 10% after field normalization. This is easier to compare across specialties than raw citation totals.

Publishing pattern

Publication volume and article mix

Volume is separated from citation accumulation so newer papers are not presented as weaker simply because they are newer.

Works published by year

OpenAlex source records · 2020–2025

12020
92021
582022
242023
272024
142025

Recent work-type mix

118 OpenAlex works · 2021–2024

Article91.5%
Editorial6.8%
Erratum0.8%
Review0.8%
OpenAlex article is broader than “original research.” PubMed Publication Types can add case-report and clinical-study detail.
Fit signals

Topics and research coverage

OpenAlex topics show the research communities this journal serves.

Leading OpenAlex topics

2021–2024 works
Digital Holography and Microscopy16
Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques7
Advanced Optical Imaging Technologies6
Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research6
Silicon and Solar Cell Technologies6
Circadian rhythm and melatonin5
Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices5
Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research3
Laser Applications in Dentistry and Medicine3
Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials3
Methodology: OpenAlex snapshot 2026-10-19. FWCI, percentile badges, topics, and type mix use 118 works published 2021–2024. Radar normalization is versioned in the cached profile, and no cost score is assigned without reliable APC data.

Subject Category Quartiles

Quartiles computed within each OpenAlex subfield
CategoryQuartile
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsQ2
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringQ3
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and ImagingQ2

Is Frontiers in Photonics a good journal?

A solid Q2 journal by citation data

By citation data, Frontiers in Photonics is a solid journal: it is Q2 in Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics and 1 other subfield, the second quarter of journals by score, and ranks #339 of 886 Physics & Astronomy journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 39%). Frontiers in Photonics' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,353 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, so check that your topic fits its scope.

Best quartile
Q2
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Rank in Physics & Astronomy
#339 of 886
Top 39%
2026 Journal Metrics Score
2.4
Acceptance rate
Not published
By the journal or publisher
Open access fee (APC)
$2,353
OpenAlex, verify with the journal
Papers published in 2025
14
OpenAlex works

Check before you submit

  • Confirm the current article processing charge, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website; the OpenAlex figure is indicative.
  • Confirm the journal is indexed where your institution or funder requires (for example Scopus or PubMed) before you submit.

Verdict from citation data only: quartile and field rank by Journal Metrics Score (OpenAlex), publisher-reported acceptance rates, and PubMed submission and acceptance dates. See how we rank journals and how to verify indexing.

Q2
Subfield Quartile
N/A
CAS Block

Ranking and source check

#339
of 886 Physics & Astronomy field journals
#91
among Q2 Physics & Astronomy journals

Confirm the exact title and ISSNs against the publisher homepage before a high-stakes submission decision.

Frontiers journals compared

2026 Journal Metrics Scores for 13 of 129 Frontiers journals published by Frontiers Media, highest score first. Each journal is scored separately; there is no combined score for the Frontiers family.

  1. Frontiers in Nanotechnology8.8Q1
  2. Frontiers in Drug Discovery6.3Q1
  3. Frontiers in Chemistry6.2Q1
  4. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience4.1Q1
  5. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy3.2Q1
  6. Frontiers in Nuclear Medicine3.2Q1
  7. Frontiers in Communications and Networks3.0Q2
  8. Frontiers in Physics2.8Q2
  9. Frontiers in Radiology2.7Q2
  10. Frontiers in Electronics2.5Q3
  11. Frontiers in Oncology2.5Q1
  12. Frontiers in Photonicsthis journal2.4Q2
  13. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine2.3Q2

Journal Details

OpenAlex Works
149
H-Index
14
Fully Open Access
Yes
Recent OA Works
149
Subject Areas
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsElectrical and Electronic EngineeringRadiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging

Source: the current OpenAlex source record. OpenAlex works can include multiple work types. Fully Open Access is a source-level flag. Recent OA Works is summed from OpenAlex's counts_by_year series (up to the latest ten years); it is not a lifetime OA percentage. Any APC shown here is an indicative OpenAlex value—verify current charges on the journal's official website.

How to submit to Frontiers in Photonics

  1. 1

    Check the scope

    OpenAlex classifies Frontiers in Photonics' papers in subfields including Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging. Read the aims and scope page and a few recent papers close to your topic before you prepare the manuscript.

  2. 2

    Follow the author guidelines

    Article types, word and figure limits, reference style, and the required statements (data availability, ethics, conflicts of interest, author contributions) are set by the journal. Prepare the cover letter and files to match them.

    Frontiers in Photonics homepage ↗
  3. 3

    Submit through the Frontiers submission platform

    Frontiers journals take submissions through Frontiers' own platform: sign in to My Frontiers, choose Submit, and pick the journal and specialty section.

    Open the Frontiers submission platform ↗
  4. 4

    Plan for costs

    OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,353 USD for this open-access journal. Check the current fee, waivers, and any institutional agreement on the journal website.

  5. 5

    Know what to expect

    Frontiers in Photonics does not publish an acceptance rate.

Submission system from the publisher's author information, checked 2026-10-27. Individual journals can differ, so follow the link in the journal's own author guidelines.

Reviewer Two · coming soon

Know what reviewers will say before you submit to Frontiers in Photonics

An AI pre-submission report on your manuscript: the objections a tough reviewer is likely to raise, desk-rejection risks, and better-fit journals from our data. $29 per report.

See what the report covers

Common questions about Frontiers in Photonics

Is Frontiers in Photonics a good journal?

By citation data, Frontiers in Photonics is a solid journal: it is Q2 in Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics and 1 other subfield, the second quarter of journals by score, and ranks #339 of 886 Physics & Astronomy journals by Journal Metrics Score (top 39%). Frontiers in Photonics' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4. OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,353 USD. OpenAlex classifies its papers in subfields including Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, so check that your topic fits its scope.

What is Frontiers in Photonics' Journal Metrics Score in 2026?

Frontiers in Photonics' 2026 Journal Metrics Score is 2.4, from the August 2026 data release. The score is a two-year citation average computed from OpenAlex (CC0) data: citations received in the most recent complete year to works published in the two prior years, divided by the number of those works.

What is the acceptance rate of Frontiers in Photonics?

We have not found an official acceptance rate published by Frontiers in Photonics or its publisher, and Journal Metrics does not estimate one because submission counts are not public. To judge selectivity, compare Frontiers in Photonics' quartile and score with similar journals, or ask the editorial office.

What quartile is Frontiers in Photonics in?

Frontiers in Photonics' best quartile is Q2. By OpenAlex subfield: Q2 in Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics; Q3 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Q2 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging. Quartiles rank journals by Journal Metrics Score within each subfield.

Is the Journal Metrics Score the same as other journal citation metrics?

No. Journal Metrics computes the score independently from OpenAlex open data. Other providers use different citation databases, document types, and counting rules, so their published figures for Frontiers in Photonics will not match this score exactly. Compare journals using one source at a time.

How much does it cost to publish in Frontiers in Photonics?

OpenAlex lists an indicative article processing charge of $2,353 USD for Frontiers in Photonics. This journal-level estimate may exclude taxes, waivers, discounts, or article-type fees, so confirm the current charge on the journal's website.

Which journals are alternatives to Frontiers in Photonics?

Comparable journals include Light-Advanced Manufacturing, Optical Review, Photonics Letters of Poland, and Opto-Electronic Science. Compare their scores, acceptance times, and costs in the recommended alternatives on this page before choosing where to submit.

How do I submit a paper to Frontiers in Photonics?

Frontiers journals take submissions through Frontiers' own platform: sign in to My Frontiers, choose Submit, and pick the journal and specialty section. Before submitting, check the scope, follow the author guidelines for article type, length, and required statements, and prepare a cover letter.

Cite an article from this journal
Back to Search