Seminars

Inside Physical Review Letters

by R. Schuhmann, APS

Europe/Berlin
Bldg 25B, Room 109

Bldg 25B, Room 109

Description

Physical Review Letters receives about 11000 submissions per year, and publishes about 4000. Roughly 65% of the papers originate outside the U.S., as do well over half of the referee reports. This is international peer-reviewed publication on a large scale, and the system that has evolved to handle it is complex. I will explain how it works using a few statistics and some interesting examples from our actual correspondence. Only the names will be removed, to protect the (not so) innocent. The examples will provide some insight for authors who wish to publish a Letter and some guidance for referees who are asked to review a Letter. It will also shed light on the joys and sorrows of life as an Editor for a high-profile physics journal. The talk will conclude with a brief discussion of upcoming challenges and initiatives, including a preview of activities for 2008, which will mark 50 years of publication of PRL.