Publishing Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in Reviews of Modern Physics, the world’s premier physics review journal and the most highly cited Physical Review publication.

This page guides you through all the steps in the peer-review process, from submission to publication.

Before you submit, be sure to:

To check the status of your paper at any time, visit the APS Manuscript Status page. You will need your manuscript’s 7-digit Accession Code and the last name of one of the first three authors on your paper.

If you need help with any aspect of the publishing process, please contact APS Help.

Prepare Your Manuscript

The guidelines listed here for preparing your paper for submission are similar across all Physical Review journals. For your convenience, these links take you to specific submission guidelines for Reviews of Modern Physics:

• Article Types and Length Limits, including Guidelines for Proposing an Article
• Writing the Paper
• Rev. Mod. Phys.-Specific Style and Formatting
• Supplemental Material
• Additional Materials
• Appropriate Use of AI Tools

Preparing your paper carefully ensures editors and referees can appreciate your message.

Article Types and Length Limits

Reviews of Modern Physics offers the following Article Types:

Articles (Length limit: 50,000 words)

Reviews of Modern Physics Articles review active areas of physics in a form that is useful to both practitioners and people entering the field. With this goal in mind, we ask that authors give considerable attention to the presentation of their material and make the introduction accessible to graduate students and readers from other fields. The body of each paper should be economically and thoughtfully organized. Notation should follow the physics conventions established in graduate-level textbooks, unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise. The length limit of 50,000 words corresponds to about 50 printed pages.

For the practitioner, a review Article presents the current status of a given topic. It provides a historical background and a literature survey, of course, but an ideal review is more than a catalog of work done. It is a critical distillation of the progress on the topic, identifies the most successful methods, and points out areas for future development.

While most Reviews of Modern Physics’s articles are traditional scholarly reviews in the sense described above, the editors also seek outstanding tutorial articles stemming from topical schools in areas of advanced physics. Finally, Reviews of Modern Physics maintains a tradition of publishing articles that provide a broad new framework for understanding the phenomena in a given field, for example the papers by Richard Feynman, Hans Bethe, and Enrico Fermi. The editors are highly selective of such articles.

Colloquia (Length limit: 20,000 words)

Reviews of Modern Physics Colloquia describe recent research of interest to a broad audience of physicists. Their aim is to do for the published literature what colloquia do for institutions and laboratories, that is, communicate to one’s colleagues, including junior graduate students, research results at the frontier of physics and offer new insights into concepts that link different physics subfields. Talks prepared for departmental colloquia or for invited presentations at workshops or conferences may serve as the basis for a Reviews of Modern Physics Colloquium.

The paper’s subject should be one in which recent progress has been noteworthy, and it should interest a broad audience of physicists. A Colloquium’s introduction should make clear to readers why the subject is of interest to nonspecialists. Authors should aim for clarity and focus of presentation and avoid jargon and acronyms, defining and illustrating any terms that might be unfamiliar to the nonspecialist.

A Colloquium should put the described research in the broader perspective of the field. A Colloquium is not expected to present a comprehensive review, but the introduction and references should place the subject in the context of related work.

Erratum

An Erratum notifies readers about errors or omissions in previously published papers. See more details about Errata in the Policies and Practices.

Visit this Length Guide for information about length limits for all articles published in the Physical Review journals.

Guidelines for Proposing an Article

Approximately half of the reviews published in Reviews of Modern Physics are invited. Most of the other reviews are proposed in advance by the authors, and their submission is encouraged by one of the Reviews of Modern Physics’s editors.

Prospective authors should submit a proposal via the APS Submission Server.

The proposal (approximately 2-5 pages) should allow the editors to assess both the scope and the treatment of the subject and should consist of the following:

• A title, author list, an abstract, and table of contents, followed by an outline of the intended review article showing the main sections and how they connect to form a coherent intellectual framework.

• A short list of the most important references (20 to 30) that will be covered, organized by topic.

• A description of the author team’s specific expertise in this area, including key publications that establish your authority on the subject.

• An explanation of why this topic is timely—what recent experimental or theoretical progress makes this the right moment for a comprehensive review.

• An articulation of how the review will go beyond cataloging the literature to provide critical synthesis, identify successful approaches, and establish future directions for the field, particularly in physics.

Writing the Paper

Audience

Reviews of Modern Physics aims to inform a broad readership of physicists and those in related fields about research trends in all relevant areas of fundamental and applied physical science. To serve this broad readership, Reviews of Modern Physics should be a pleasure to read on all levels. The articles should have strong and clear introductions to bring the reader up to speed; the content should not only be relevant but also elegantly and succinctly presented when possible. Authors should also avoid unnecessary jargon throughout the paper. (See Editorial: Synthesizing current research succinctly and elegantly)

Breadth

To qualify as a review, an article should survey a field or topic to which many have contributed. The author’s own work may be included in this larger context. However, articles focusing primarily upon a single author’s work are not suitable for Reviews of Modern Physics.

One-year Deadline

Authors of commissioned articles have one year to write the manuscript. During this time, the agreed-upon topic is considered to be reserved. If the article is not submitted on time Reviews of Modern Physics’s editorial team may decide to no longer reserve the topic and may invite another author to write on the topic in order to provide readers with timely coverage.

Article Templates

The preferred format for an initial submission is a PDF file, ideally in two-column format with figures embedded. If your manuscript is accepted for publication, you will be asked at that time to provide either a LaTeX or Word source file for the manuscript and separate PDF, PNG, or JPG files for each figure.

• See the REVTeX Home Page for template files called apstemplate.tex for APS journals. They are located in the doc/latex/revtex/sample directory. See also REVTeX 4 - Frequently Asked Questions.

Templates Available in Overleaf

Authors who use the online LaTeX editor Overleaf can use APS-approved templates for authoring and submitting their manuscripts. Search for “Physical Review” under Templates. When you’re done authoring, click on “Submit to APS” on the top of the page and choose from the options to export your paper.

Style and Formatting

The go-to source for style and formatting for Reviews of Modern Physics can be found in the Reviews of Modern Physics Style Guide. The following Style Basics, which apply to all APS journals, offer essential tips on formatting and styling specific sections of your paper:

• Title
• Affiliations
• Byline footnotes
• Main article text
• Data availability statement
• Acknowledgment
• Author contribution statement
• References and subsidiary remarks
• Appendixes
• Mathematical Notation
• Tables and Figures
• Supplemental Material

Reviews of Modern Physics-Specific Style and Formatting

Citing References

Reviews of Modern Physics’ format for citing references is distinct from all other Physical Review journals. References should be listed alphabetically by the last name of the first author. References should be cited by name and year in the main text, as follows: (Born and Wolf, 2013) See the Reviews of Modern Physics Style Guide for detailed information on reference style.

Footnotes

Authors may provide short commentary in footnotes at the bottom of the page on which they are cited. Designate them with superscript numbers consecutively throughout the text.

Language Editing Services

All articles in the Physical Review journals are published in American English. APS has partnered with Editage to offer the following Language Editing Author Services:

• English Language Editing
• Translation Services
• Plain Language Summaries

Author Names

Authors with Chinese, Japanese, or Korean names may choose to have their names published in their own language alongside the English versions of their names in the author list of their publications. See Information About Author Names for details on how to prepare your manuscript.

Accessibility Requirements

APS complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which make online content accessible to the broadest readership possible. Articles published online should meet the following guidelines:

• Clear and easy-to-read figures in accessible color palettes
• Use of words or symbols (instead of color) to provide meaning
• Descriptive links

Supplemental Material

Supplemental Material (SM) is useful information that is not essential to understanding an article’s main results, such as:

• Multimedia files
• Parameters used in or produced by calculations
• Details of sample preparation
• Derivations of equations

Here are the top guidelines for authors about preparing Supplemental Material:

Content

A paper must stand on its own and be understandable and convincing without Supplemental Material. Editors may ask you to incorporate Supplemental Material into a paper as main text or Appendices. Editors may also ask you to convert a Letter into a longer Article to allow for this extra information.

Referencing Supplemental Material

APS stores all SM files for a published paper as a single deposit with a dedicated URL. Authors should cite the SM in the paper’s reference list and explain its content as follows:

See Supplemental Material at [URL will be inserted by publisher] for [give brief description of material].

Incorporating References in Supplemental Material

All references cited in the SM should be listed in the reference section of the main text.

For editorial policies and more details about preparing and depositing Supplemental Material, see Supplemental Material Instructions.

Cover Letter

The cover letter is an opportunity to explain why the manuscript is a perfect fit for the journal. It should include the following:

• Context of the results
• Significance/importance of the key findings
• Relevant submission history at Physical Review, including another paper that is part of a joint submission
• Any recommended or excluded referees

Additional Materials

Reviews of Modern Physics does not require additional materials beyond what is mentioned above.

Appropriate Use of AI Tools

AI tools may be used to assist with aspects of research and manuscript preparation, but AI tools cannot replace authors’ expertise, judgment, or accountability. An AI program cannot be held accountable and cannot be listed as an author. Authors are fully responsible for accuracy and must review and refine all AI-generated content. Moreover, they must disclose in the paper any substantive uses of AI. Prior to submitting a manuscript, authors should review the APS Journals policies on the Appropriate Use of AI Tools, and authors must ensure they comply with the guidelines on use, disclosure, and rights protection.

Peer Review

All Physical Review journals follow the single-anonymized peer review procedures outlined in the Editorial Policies and Practices. This section highlights any practices or alternative forms of peer review that are specific to Reviews of Modern Physics.

Responding to Referee Reports

These standard tips will help you respond effectively to a referee report.

Time Frame for Resubmission

Resubmitting your article as soon as possible ensures the timely sharing of your results. The recommended time frame for submission is one month, but articles requiring more extensive revisions may take longer.

Revise or Transfer Your Paper

The Physical Review portfolio provides many publishing options and welcomes the transfer of a manuscript between journals. If a manuscript is not suitable for publication at a given Physical Review journal, the editors aim to support authors by suggesting another journal or journals, provided a suitable option exists.

To resubmit or transfer your paper, go to the APS Submission Server.

When resubmitting or transferring your paper, please provide the following:

• The most recent version of your manuscript without mark-ups or highlights
• A point-by-point response to the most recent set of peer-review reports, if reports were obtained
• A list of changes you have made since the last submission
• A PDF version of your manuscript that highlights any changes you have made since the last submission
• A revised Cover Letter

If you are transferring your paper in response to an explicit invitation, please be sure to mention the offer in your Cover Letter.

If you are requesting to add or remove an author from the paper, please see the Editorial Policy and Practice on adding or removing authors.

After Acceptance

Final Checklist

Here are all the materials you’ll need to get your accepted paper published. The Editors may contact you about these items after formally accepting your paper.

• Ensure your paper is presented in standard American English
• Check equations for accuracy
• Ensure author names and bylines, Acknowledgment statements, and Author Contribution statements align with Physical Review Policies and Practices
• Indicate the email address of the post-publication Contact Author in a byline footnote. * Contact author: author@email.com
• Provide ORCID iDs for all authors who want them. APS requires the Corresponding Author to provide an iD and encourages all authors to provide them. To avoid a delay in publication, all iDs should be provided before the paper goes into production.

Proofreading and Copyediting

APS partners with external vendors to copyedit and format accepted papers according to the APS Journals Style Guide and in collaboration with the relevant journal’s Editorial Team. This service improves the quality of papers by ensuring they are clear and readable, and that they carry the signature Physical Review brand.

Proofs

Authors should expect to see proofs of their manuscript with marked changes within approximately eight weeks of acceptance. Proofs are sent to the Corresponding Author, who is responsible for coordinating changes with all authors and directing them to the production vendor.

Proof Corrections

The production process generally requires two rounds of proofs; more rounds may be necessary for lengthy papers or papers that deviate significantly from Physical Review style.

Production Status

Authors can find the status of their paper on the APS Manuscript Status page. You’ll need your 7-digit Accession Code and the last name of one of the authors.

Common Proof Corrections

The Important Notice to Authors provides essential instructions on how to check your proof. Authors should check the following:

Author names

Are they all present, in the correct order, and spelled correctly?

ORCID iDs

Do the links go to the correct records? To avoid delays, APS does not add ORCIDs to papers after the first set of proofs is returned.

Funder information

Review grant numbers for accuracy

Equations and tables

APS converts the original source file to XML and the PDF. This conversion works extremely well for most cases, but please check equations and tables carefully.

Post-publication corresponding author

Ensure there is a byline footnote giving the email address of the author to whom correspondence should be addressed (e.g., *Contact author: author@email.com).

PDF and Online Versions

As part of the production process, APS converts all articles, regardless of their original source, into standardized XML that in turn is used to create the PDF and online versions of the article. This process will result in articles that conform to journal style.

Post Publication Corrections and Changes

The journals offer a variety of ways to correct the scientific record after publication, including Corrections and Author Name Changes. Visit the Post Publication section of the Policies and Practices.

Promotion and Engagement

APS helps authors promote their work to peers in the research community and to the general public.

Opportunities for Visibility

Physics Magazine

Physics Magazine provides daily news and commentary about a selection of papers from the Physical Review collection, including those published in Reviews of Modern Physics.

Press Office and Embargo Policy

APS issues a weekly tip sheet for reporters that highlights upcoming newsworthy research from the Physical Review journals. Unless otherwise noted, papers submitted to the Physical Review journals are not embargoed. Visit this information page about the APS Press Office to find out more about the tip sheet and the APS Embargo Policy.

Publication Charges and Reprints

The Physical Review journals provide authors with an online, web-based interface, SciPris™, to pay for various author charges, including article publication charges, charges for color figures, and reprints. Upon acceptance, authors will receive a unique link to the SciPris™ platform.

Color Figures Charges

Color figures are free for the online version of any article. Authors may also elect to pay to have color figures in print for Reviews of Modern Physics.

• The charge is US \$1060 for a single color figure in print and \$575 for each additional color figure.
• Authors should indicate their request for color figures in print upon submission, indicating which figures are intended for color in print.
• Full payment of the color charges is required before the article is sent to production. If payment is not received within 21 working days, the article is sent to production with the figures designated as color online only,
• If authors require more time to pay the charges, the article will be held until the anticipated payment date.
• Any questions or concerns regarding color in print may be directed to payments@aps.org.

Reprints

Reprints are available from Reviews of Modern Physics. Authors can use SciPris™ to order reprints and obtain associated prices. For authors’ convenience and to minimize delay, the SciPris™ platform accepts payment by major credit card. For those who require invoices to make payment, the system offers this option as well. Please note that reprints are created and mailed after the journal issue has been printed.