The IEEE JSTQE invites manuscript submissions in advances and applications of hollow-core fibers. In 2024, they celebrate (1) the 60-year anniversary of the suggestion by Marcatili and Schmeltzer to use hollow waveguides for long distance optical communication and lasers, and (2) the 25-year anniversary of the first demonstration of a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber by Cregan et al. Hollow-core fibers enable new studies of light-matter interaction when filled with a liquid or gas. The inherently high damage threshold opens up possibilities of guiding extremely high power, or delivery of mid-IR light for surgery or spectroscopy through a flexible waveguide. The purpose of this special issue is to provide an overview of ongoing progress and trends in the advancement, understanding, and novel applications of hollow-core fibers.

JSTQE has an impact factor of 4.653, higher than that of Optics Express and Optics Letters. The team of guest editors around Michael Frosz consists of Thomas D. Bradley (Eindhoven Univ. of Technology, The Netherlands), Md. Selim Habib (Florida Polytechnic University, USA), Christos Markos (Technical Univ. of Denmark), John C. Travers (Heriot-Watt Univ., United Kingdom), and Yingying Wang (Jinan Univ., China).

The submission deadline is February 1st 2024, with hard copy publication in November/December 2024.