Forbes Andrew, Cherif Rim, Dudley Angela, Dikande Alain M
J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image Sci Vis. 2020 Nov 1;37(11):OIA1-OIA3. doi: 10.1364/JOSAA.412133.
Africa has a long history in optics, but decades of turmoil have seen optical science in Africa advance only slowly, punching far below its weight. But a younger generation of scientists hold promise for the brighter future, addressing continental issues with photonics. In this Feature Issue on Optics in Africa we capture some of the exciting optical research from across the continent in 51 research reports, covering both fundamental and applied topics. The issue is supplemented by invited review articles that offer authoritative perspectives on the historical development of key research fields, from early advances in lasers to present-day progress in photonic materials. To encourage the exploration of new research directions, the issue has several tutorial articles that lower the entry barrier for emerging researchers, while highlighting the scope of research on the continent and its international context.
非洲在光学领域有着悠久的历史，但数十年的动荡使得非洲的光学科学发展缓慢，远未发挥出其应有的影响力。不过，年轻一代的科学家有望为更光明的未来带来希望，他们正利用光子学解决非洲大陆的问题。在本期关于非洲光学的专题中，我们通过51篇研究报告呈现了非洲大陆一些令人振奋的光学研究，涵盖基础和应用主题。本期还配有特邀综述文章，这些文章对关键研究领域的历史发展提供了权威观点，从激光的早期进展到光子材料的当今进展。为鼓励探索新的研究方向，本期有几篇教程文章，降低了新兴研究人员的入门门槛，同时突出了非洲大陆的研究范围及其国际背景。
