When was Reviews of Modern Physics founded?
Reviews of Modern Physics was established in 1929 by the American Physical Society. It was the first journal dedicated to regularly publishing review articles across all aspects of physics.
Questions about Reviews of Modern Physics
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who are the most cited authors in Reviews of Modern Physics?
Among the most cited authors are Hans Bethe, Enrico Fermi, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Howard Percy Robertson, Clemens Roothaan, and Kurt Alder. Several of these authors were Nobel laureates. Their institutional affiliations include Bell Laboratories, the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and multiple University of California campuses.
Who edited Reviews of Modern Physics and what were their backgrounds?
The journal's founding editor was John Torrence Tate, who served from 1929 to 1941 and again in 1947. Samuel Goudsmit, co-discoverer of quantum spin, edited the journal from 1951 to 1957. Edward Condon, a member of the Manhattan Engineer District, served from 1951 to 1968. The current editor-in-chief is Sujit Datta.
Why did Reviews of Modern Physics expand its scope in the 1950s and 1960s?
The journal faced falling readership by the 1950s and 1960s, prompting the editorial board to broaden coverage beyond settled branches of physics. Topics at the frontier of research, including areas with unresolved questions and active controversy, were then included.
What topics outside core physics has Reviews of Modern Physics covered?
Reviews of Modern Physics has published articles on the safety of light-water nuclear reactors, the feasibility of the Strategic Defense Initiative (known as Star Wars), and the nature of the DNA molecule. These topics reflect the journal's intended audience, which includes university students, instructors, and scientifically literate members of the general public.
How often is Reviews of Modern Physics published?
Reviews of Modern Physics is a quarterly journal, meaning it publishes four issues per year. It is published by the American Physical Society.