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Views on 50 years of IOP’s Journal of Physics series

11 May 2017 by Simon Davies

The Journal of Physics (JPhys) series encompasses five core physics journals, a conference series and a new open access journal covering all of physics. In celebration of this anniversary, IOP Publishing has commissioned a selection of viewpoints looking back over the 50 years of the JPhys series to highlight a selection of important papers published by the journals.

The origins of the JPhys series can be traced back to the journal Proceedings of the Physical Society, which commenced publication in 1874, with the series expanding and adapting to cover new fields and the needs of the scientific community.

Now in its 50th year, the series has established itself as an authoritative and internationally recognised journal series in physics, with a considerable legacy.

Jamie Hutchins, Publishing Director at IOP Publishing, said: “The JPhys series has a significant history surrounding it. Since its inception, it has published more than 150,000 articles, and more than 40 Nobel laureates have published their papers in the journals.”

Mr Hutchins said: “We commissioned these commentaries from respected researchers, and asked them to explain why the papers are significant and discuss the impact they had, and continue to have, on their field.

“However, we’re also looking to the future and to the researchers we aim to support. To that end, we’ve put together a collection of special issues called Emerging Leaders. The collection will recognise the talents of exceptional, upcoming researchers working in some of the most exciting fields in physics.”

Distinguished physicist Professor Sir John Enderby is a former editor-in-chief of Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, and a past President of the Institute of Physics. He said: “Given the legacy of Proc Phys Soc., it is no surprise that the J Phys series today is so celebrated. Its relevance across physics continues to expand.

“This growth and continued relevance is a testament to the way editors and staff moved to capture new physics, and ensure the series stays as relevant and vital for the community as Proc Phys Soc was all those years ago.

“I sincerely hope that the success achieved in the past continues into the future.”

The JPhys series now consists of:

  • Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
  • Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
  • Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
  • Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
  • Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics
  • Journal of Physics: Conference Series
  • Journal of Physics Communications

The Journal of Physics Communications was launched recently in order to keep the series vital and to meet the changing needs of the research communities the JPhys series serves. The journal offers a Gold open access model previously not available within the series and ensures publishing opportunities across all disciplines of physics research, as well as interdisciplinary subjects that may not fit the narrower scope of the established journals. The journal will represent the same high quality standards as the rest of the series and engages researchers who have provided service as board members and reviewers across the IOP portfolio. It is now open for submissions.

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