Physical Review E: plasmas, fluids, statistical, many-body & biophysics. Physical ... Bulletin of the APS: abstracts
How to publish your work in the Physical Review or
Editors are from Mars, Referees are from Venus, and Authors are from Earth
Thomas Pattard, Physical Review A
APS Editorial Office, Ridge, NY
• Overview of APS and APS Publishing • The Peer Review Process • APS’ most recent Projects
American Physical Society (APS) A non-profit organization, governed democratically by its members (founded 1899) Main activities: 1. Research publications 2. Meeting organization 3. Member representation
Advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics
4. Public outreach
Some numbers: (FY 2008 figures) ~ 200 employees [College Park (HQ), Ridge (Ed. Office), Washington] more than 47000 members Total revenue: $44.6 M
“An extrapolation of its present rate of growth reveals that in the not too distant future Physical Review will fill book shelves at a speed exceeding that Pages Receipts of Published light. This is not forbidden by Published Articles relativity, since no information is conveyed!”
More Statistics…
PRL Receipts by Geographic Region January 1 - December 31
5000 4500 Number of manuscripts
4000
N America
S America
Europe
M East & Africa
Indian Subcontinent
Asia (w/o China & Taiwan)
China
Taiwan
Australasia
Europe
3500
N America
3000 2500 2000 1500
Asia w/o China & Taiwan
1000 China
500 0
1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year of Submission
Physical Review A-E Receipts by Geographic Region January 1 - December 31
9000 8000
N America
L America
Europe
M East & Africa
Indian Subcontinent
Asia (w/o China & Taiwan)
China
Taiwan
Rcpts fr. Taiwan (2008)
Australasia
Number of manuscripts
Europe
7000
PRA
37
PRB
177
PRC
2
4000
PRD
70
3000
PRE
56
PRL
168
6000 N America
5000
2000
Asia w/o China & Taiwan
1000
Taiwan
0 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Year of Submission
PRL Acceptance Rates by Geographic Region January 1 - December 31
100.0 NAmerica Europe Indian Subcontinent China Astralasia
90.0
% Acceptance Rate
80.0 70.0
LAmerica MEast&Africa Asia w/o China & Taiwan Taiwan
60.0 50.0 40.0
N America
Europe
Australasia
30.0
Asia w/o China & Taiwan
20.0 10.0
China
0.0 1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
Year of Acceptance
2006
2008
Physical Review A-E Acceptance Rates by Geographic Region January 1 - December 31 NAmerica Europe Indian Subcontinent China Astralasia
100.0 90.0
N America
80.0
Europe
70.0 % Acceptance Rate
LAmerica MEast&Africa Asia w/o China & Taiwan Taiwan
Asia w/o China & Taiwan
60.0 Taiwan
50.0 40.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 0.0 1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
Year of Acceptance
2006
2008
Acceptance Rates
Percentage Acceptance
100 80 60 40 20 PRA
PRB
PRC
PRD
PRE
PRL
0
1996 *2008 is Jan-Jun only
1998
2000
2002 Year
2004
2006
2008*
The Peer Review Process
Editors Want to ensure quality publications
READERS !? Authors
Referees
Want to publish
May have personal interest
Review process at Physical Review New paper internal review (by editor) 1st round peer review
2nd round 3rd round (if needed) Appeal to Editor
review by Editorial Board Member (EBM)
Appeal to Editor in Chief (procedural only)
Time to send new paper to first referee (Aug 2009)
Time to send decision to author after report(s) arrived (Aug 2009)
Average time from submission to acceptance
Average time from submission to acceptance !"#$%&'()*#+,'(%-*."(/%01$%.$2"$3%+.'&$))% 456678% D"01%$-"0'.)%
D"01%E*01'.)%
D"01%.$F$.$$)%
;:6% ;96% ;56% ;66% 76% :6% 96% 56% 6% %
We want to explain to a non-expert (but professional physicist) what these articles are about and why they are important
