Physical Review: A History of Physics Publishing
Since its inception in the late 19th century, Physical Review has served as a cornerstone for the dissemination of physics research. From its humble beginnings at Cornell University to its current status as a global network of specialized journals, it has evolved alongside the scientific discoveries it documents.
The Early Years and Institutional Transitions
Physical Review began publication in July 1893. The journal was organized by Edward Nichols, a professor at Cornell University, with support from Cornell's president, J. Gould Schurman. For the first two decades, from 1893 to 1913, the journal was managed and edited at Cornell by Nichols, Ernest Merritt, and Frederick Bedell. This initial era of publication is now categorized as Physical Review Series I.
In 1913, the American Physical Society (APS), which had been founded in 1899, took over the publication and initiated Physical Review Series II. While the journal remained at Cornell under editor-in-chief G. S. Fulcher until 1926, it later moved to the University of Minnesota to be closer to editor John Torrence Tate, Sr. By 1929, the APS expanded its offerings by launching Reviews of Modern Physics, a venue specifically designed for longer review articles. In 1932, the American Institute of Physics (AIP) assumed responsibility for the journal's publication.
During the hardships of the Great Depression, the journal's accessibility was maintained through the philanthropy of Alfred Loomis, a wealthy scientist who anonymously paid the publication fees for authors who could not afford them.
Expansion and Specialization
Following the death of John Torrence Tate, Sr. in 1950, the journals were managed in Minnesota by E. L. Hill and J. William Buchta. Eventually, Samuel Goudsmit and Simon Pasternack were appointed, and the editorial office relocated to the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Eastern Long Island, New York.
A major milestone occurred in July 1958 with the introduction of Physical Review Letters. This sister journal was created to publish short articles of broad interest and was edited by George L. Trigg from its launch until 1988.
As the volume of scientific research grew, the main journal underwent a significant restructuring in 1970, splitting into four sub-journals: Physical Review A, B, C, and D. In 1993, Physical Review E was added to accommodate the surge in research regarding nonlinear dynamics. Together, these five journals comprise Physical Review Series III.
Modern Evolution and Open Access
The editorial office moved to its current location near Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1980. The journal has been led by several Editors in Chief, including David Lazarus, Benjamin Bederson, Martin Blume, and Gene Sprouse. As of March 2025, Robert Rosner serves as the Editor in Chief.
The APS has continuously adapted to the digital age and the movement toward open access (research that is free to read and reuse). In 1998, the APS launched Physical Review Special Topics: Accelerators and Beams, followed by Physics Education Research in 2005. Both dropped the "Special Topics" designation in 2016. Additionally, the APS launched Physical Review Focus in 1998 to provide historical context for articles, which later merged into the online publication Physics in 2011.
The portfolio has expanded further with several specialized, high-impact journals:
- Physical Review X: An online-only, peer-reviewed open access journal covering all areas of pure, applied, and interdisciplinary physics.
- Physical Review Applied (2014): Focuses on experimental and theoretical applications of physics.
- Physical Review Fluids (2016): Dedicated to fluid dynamics research.
- Physical Review Materials (2017): Addresses gaps in materials research coverage.
- Physical Review Research (2019): A broad, fully open-access journal.
- PRX Quantum (2020): Connects quantum information science and technology communities.
- PRX Life (2023): Explores the interface of physical and life sciences.
Key Facts
- Founded: July 1893 at Cornell University.
- Governing Body: Managed by the American Physical Society (APS) since 1913.
- Series Structure: Divided into Series I (1893–1913), Series II (1913–1970), and Series III (A–E journals).
- Open Access: Offers CC-BY licensed open access via article processing charges since 2011.
- Current Leadership: Robert Rosner (Editor in Chief as of March 2025).
| Era/Journal | Start Date | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Series I | 1893 | Original Cornell-managed volumes |
| Series II | 1913 | APS takes over publication |
| Physical Review Letters | 1958 | Short articles of broad interest |
| Series III (A-D) | 1970 | Split into four specialized sub-journals |
| Physical Review E | 1993 | Added for nonlinear dynamics research |
| Physical Review X | Modern Era | Online-only, fully open access |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Physical Review and Physical Review Letters?
Physical Review (and its A-E sub-journals) typically publishes full-length research papers, whereas Physical Review Letters is designed for shorter articles that have a particularly broad interest to the physics community.
How does the APS handle open access and copyright?
Since 2011, authors can pay an article processing charge to make their papers open access under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (CC-BY). The APS also allows authors to reuse parts of their published work in derivative works, including Wikipedia.
What are the different series of Physical Review?
Series I covers the volumes from 1893 to 1913. Series II began in 1913 when the APS took over. Series III consists of the specialized sub-journals Physical Review A, B, C, D, and E.
Which journals in the family are fully open access?
Physical Review X, Physical Review Research, and the journals formerly known as Special Topics (Accelerators and Beams, and Physics Education Research) are open access. PRX Quantum and PRX Life also follow modern open-access models.