Optics research at the U.S. Navy System Commands Laboratories: introduction

The purpose of this feature issue is to highlight optics research being performed at the U.S. Navy System Commands. Contributed papers cover a range of topics related to the various components of optical systems, including the optical source, the intervening medium, and the optical receiver, and processing techniques that are used to obtain information from the detected signal. While research from only two of the Navy System Commands is represented in this feature issue, it will hopefully enlighten the readers to the variety and high caliber of research being conducted in our Navy's laboratories and pave the way for additional features in the future.