Information for Authors

INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS

The IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters (MWTL)is a rapid-publication journal dedicated to high-quality, impactful research contributions to advancing radiofrequency (RF)/microwave theory and technology. Submissions are limited to four pages, comprising up to 3.5 pages of technical content (text) and at least .5 pages of references. Please see the details below.

Fast Turnaround:

  • Initial Decision: Authors typically receive the first decision within three weeks of submission.
  • Publication Timeline: Accepted papers are typically published online as early access within days of receipt of final files, contingent on prompt author responses to communications.

Open Access Option:

MWTL offers an open-access publication option for accepted papers upon payment of an article processing charge (APC). Publishing open access ensures broader and quicker dissemination of your research. Authors are highly encouraged to choose this option after their papers are accepted for publication.

Scope:

MWTL covers cutting-edge advances in theory, techniques, and applications across the electromagnetic spectrum, including radiofrequency (RF), microwave, millimeter-wave, and terahertz regimes.

The journal welcomes research on theory, numerical techniques, modeling, materials, components, devices, circuits, and systems, as well as applications spanning traditional and emerging fields, including communications, sensing, the Internet of Things, medicine, artificial intelligence, and wireless power transfer. Covered technologies include the generation, modulation, control, transmission, and detection of RF/microwave signals, as well as power transfer.

Authors are encouraged to submit innovative and impactful work that advances the field and aligns with MWTL’s mission of rapid dissemination of original innovations and significant advances in scientific and technological knowledge.

I. PAPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINE (IN ELECTRONIC FORM)

All manuscripts must be submitted electronically as PDF (.pdf) files through the IEEE Author Portal. Compressed files (e.g., .zip) are not accepted.

Authors must prepare their manuscripts using the templates available through the IEEE Author Center (IEEE Transactions two-column template, without biographies or author photographs). Templates may also be obtained from the MWTL Editorial Office upon request.

The submission PDF must include the following components in a single less-than-5 MB-in-size PDF file (rather than as separate files):

  • A cover letter that includes: (1) a brief description and confirmation of the manuscript’s novelty and originality in no more than four sentences, and (2) for manuscripts with more than six co-authors, a description of each author’s contributions, including the approximate percentage contribution of each author. Note that the Editors reserve the right to request revisions to the author list when appropriate.
  • A graphical abstract (required for submissions made on or after July 27, 2026). Guidelines for preparing the graphical abstract are provided at the end of this section.
  • The manuscript that is limited to 4 pages in total, consisting of up to 3.5 pages of technical content (the title, author information, abstract, index terms, main text, figures, tables, acknowledgment, etc.), with the remaining space (at least 0.5 page) reserved exclusively for references.
  • Copies of any previously published conference papers or journal articles that are identical or similar to, or closely related to, the submitted manuscript;
  • For a resubmission or revised submission,
    • the previous MWTL manuscript ID;
    • a point-by-point response to all reviewers’ and editors’ comments, explaining how each comment has been addressed in the revised manuscript; and
    • a tracked-changes version of the revised manuscript.

Please observe the following requirements:

  • Figures: All figures, including labels and annotations, must be large enough to be clearly readable both on a computer screen and in the printed version.
  • Color figures: Color figures are permitted in the electronic version but should remain understandable when printed in grayscale.
  • Axes and labels: All graph axes and figure labels should use sufficiently large lettering for easy readability.
  • Electronic graphics: Follow the Guidelines for Author-Supplied Electronic Text and Graphics available from the IEEE Author Center.
  • Manuscript length: The maximum manuscript length is 4 pages. Up to 3.5 pages may be used for technical content, including the title, author affiliations, abstract, index terms, main text, figures, tables, and acknowledgments. The remaining space (at least 0.5 page) must be used exclusively for references. This policy is effective for manuscripts submitted on or after July 1, 2025.
  • Fonts: Authors must use the font sizes specified in the IEEE templates. TeX and LaTeX users must use scalable fonts rather than bitmapped fonts to ensure optimal readability of PDF files.
  • Graphical abstract: as indicated above, a graphical abstract is required for all submissions from July 27, 2026. Detailed preparation guidelines are provided at the end of this section.
  • Author contributions: as indicated above, if a manuscript has more than six authors, the cover letter must include (1) a justification for the large number of authors and (2) a table showing the percentage contribution of each author. The Editors reserve the right to request revisions to the author list when appropriate.
  • Corresponding author: The corresponding author is listed in the first footnote of the manuscript (i.e., Corresponding author: name, email address).

The corresponding author listed in the manuscript’s first footnote must also be the individual who submits the manuscript through the IEEE Author Portal. Submissions in which the submitting author and corresponding author do not match will be returned without review.

Prior Conference and Journal Publications

Manuscripts based on material that has been presented at conferences or published elsewhere will be considered only if they contain significant new technical content or substantial complementary material beyond the previous publication(s).

Authors must:

  1. Cite all related previous publications by the authors.
  2. Attach PDF copies of the related papers.
  3. Include a separate document clearly explaining the differences between the submitted manuscript and each related prior publication.

Failure to disclose related prior work or to adequately document the manuscript’s novelty may result in immediate rejection.

Note: IEEE policy does not allow simultaneous submission of similar material to MWTL and another journal or conference. If there are any issues with the policy, please inform the editor.

Note: If you submit a paper based on content that has been previously rejected by MWTL without being recommended for resubmission, you must provide the manuscript ID number of the previous submission. In addition, you must include answers to all reviewer and editor comments, along with a tracked-changes copy of your revision, in your submission. The review process is rigorous because MWTL is dedicated to the fast but impactful publication of short scientific articles. If you believe, despite the rejection decision, that you can sufficiently improve your paper regarding all reviewer comments, you are welcome to petition the EiC to resubmit. Rejected manuscripts may be resubmitted only once.

Graphical Abstract Guidelines for IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters (MWTL)

Authors are required to submit a one-page, one-figure, high-quality graphical abstract in addition to their manuscript submission.

A graphical abstract is intended to provide editors, reviewers, and readers with a concise visual summary of the main contribution and key findings of your letter. It may be a figure from the manuscript or a newly created illustration specifically designed to summarize the work.

The graphical abstract should be provided as a high-quality image, figure, or video suitable for display alongside the article abstract on IEEE Xplore, the MWTL website, and social media platforms. It should clearly communicate the essence of the work at a glance, highlight the primary contribution of the submission, and encourage readers to explore the full manuscript.

For each issue, the Editorial Board selects up to six accepted papers as Featured Articles. The corresponding graphical abstracts will be highlighted on the MWTL LinkedIn page and the IEEE MTT-S website.

To maximize clarity and impact with a graphical abstract, authors are encouraged to:

  • Focus on a single, clear message that highlights the primary contribution of the work.
  • Use concise text, large readable fonts, and simple visual elements.
  • Minimize clutter and avoid excessive detail.
  • Ensure all figures, labels, and annotations remain legible when viewed at reduced size.
  • Use high-resolution images and maintain a clean, professional layout.

For additional information and detailed guidance on graphical abstracts, please visit:
https://journals.ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org/create-your-ieee-journal-article/prepare-supplementary-materials/

II. RULES FOR PUBLICATION CONTENT
  • All papers with theoretical or numerical contributions must show independent verification. Papers about designs, hardware, and system developments require fabrication and measurement-based validation.
  • MWTL will not publish papers that describe a single passive antenna or a passive array of antennas. Electronic systems or circuits that include an antenna may be submitted.
  • All papers describing a hybrid or monolithic RFIC should, when appropriate, include a table that compares the circuit performance to the performance of circuits in the literature.
  • Authors should cite the most recent papers (whenever possible) when comparing the performance or characteristics of the circuit or technique to prior work.
  • Photographs of any component or circuit presented must be included.
  • Photographs of the measurement setup must be included in the case of papers on measurement techniques.
  • Equations and formulas should be sequentially numbered. All symbols and acronyms must be defined, including the ones appearing in figures and tables.
  • AI-generated content is not permitted; however, AI tools may be used to polish text and correct grammatical errors, provided that the authors perform final checking and verification of the manuscript.
III. REVIEW

The articles in this journal are peer reviewed in accordance with the requirements set forth in the IEEE Publication Services and Products Board Operations Manual. Each published article is reviewed by a minimum of two independent reviewers using a single-anonymous peer review process: the reviewers’ identities are not known to the authors, but the reviewers know the authors’ identities. Articles will be screened for plagiarism and scope.

IV. FINAL ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION FORMAT

After a manuscript has been accepted for publication, the author will be requested to provide an electronic copy of the final version of the manuscript. IEEE Publishing accepts the PDF format and the following backup formats: LaTex, TEX, and Word. Some additional guidelines must, however, be followed for the submission of the final manuscript in electronic form:

  • The header information should accompany the transmitted files, clearly identifying the name of the Journal, the author’s name, and the title of the manuscript.
  • Include all macros (/def) required to produce your manuscript (TEX and LATEX).
  • IEEE Transactions/Journal style dictates a 21-pica (3.5-inch) column width. Mathematical expressions produced with this in mind are more aesthetically pleasing in the final version.
  • Figures and tables must be submitted as files in .ps, .eps, or .tiff format.

To speed up publication times, the last submitted PDF of your accepted paper will be posted on IEEE Xplore in early access until the IEEE formatted version is available. All Early Access articles are fully citable as soon as they appear in IEEE Xplore.

V. OPEN ACCESS & PAGE CHARGE FORM

When submitting the final draft and documents, authors upload the completed voluntary page charge form with their final files. The page charge form is also available from the editorial office.

The IEEE Microwave and Wireless Technology Letters (MWTL) is a hybrid journal. Before publication, you will have the option to select open access by agreeing to pay IEEE’s article processing charges (APCs) for hybrid journals. Choosing open access can enhance your manuscript’s visibility, making it more accessible to a wider audience and potentially increasing its citations and impact.

 

Editor-In-Chief
Zhizhang (David) Chen
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
z.chen@dal.ca

 

Managing Editor
Kara McArthur
JWM Consulting, LLC
Albuquerque, NM USA
managermwcl@gmail.com