Definition
Physical Review A (often abbreviated PRA) is a peer‑reviewed scientific journal that publishes original research articles, short communications, and review papers in the fields of atomic, molecular, and optical physics, as well as related areas such as quantum information and quantum optics. It is one of the several sectional journals that comprise the Physical Review family published by the American Physical Society (APS).
Overview
Physical Review A was established in 1970 when the original Physical Review journal, founded in 1893, was divided into multiple specialized sections (A, B, C, D, and later E). The split was intended to provide more focused editorial oversight and faster publication for the expanding volume of research in distinct sub‑disciplines of physics. PRA is issued weekly (with occasional combined issues) and is disseminated both in print and electronic formats. The journal operates under a traditional subscription model while also offering a hybrid open‑access option in which authors may pay an article‑processing charge to make their papers freely available. Content published in PRA is indexed in major bibliographic databases such as the Web of Science, Scopus, and INSPEC. The journal’s impact factor, as reported in recent Journal Citation Reports, typically ranges around 2–3, reflecting its role as a leading outlet for high‑quality work in its subject areas.
Etymology / Origin
The title derives from the historic Physical Review series, whose name reflects its purpose as a “review” of contemporary physical research. The appended letter “A” designates the first of the sectional journals created during the 1970 reorganization, the others being Physical Review B (condensed matter), Physical Review C (nuclear physics), Physical Review D (particle physics), and later Physical Review E (statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics). The naming convention follows a straightforward alphabetical ordering rather than a thematic abbreviation.
Characteristics
- Publisher: American Physical Society, a nonprofit professional society based in the United States.
- Disciplinary Scope: Atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics; quantum optics; quantum information science; ultracold atoms; laser physics; spectroscopy; and related theoretical and experimental work.
- Article Types: Full research papers, Rapid Communications (short, timely reports), Review Articles, and Tutorials.
- Peer‑Review Process: Submissions undergo double‑blind peer review by experts in the relevant subfield; the average time from submission to first decision is typically a few weeks.
- Publication Frequency: Weekly, with occasional combined issues to accommodate holidays or special collections.
- Access Model: Hybrid; authors may elect open‑access publishing for an additional fee, otherwise articles are accessible through institutional subscriptions or individual purchase.
- Editorial Board: Composed of internationally recognized researchers who serve as editors and associate editors, overseeing manuscript handling and ensuring adherence to APS editorial standards.
- Metrics: Recent impact factor (2022) ≈ 2.7; citation half‑life and h‑index values are consistent with a specialized but widely read physics journal.
- Digital Presence: Articles are available through the APS “Physical Review Online Archive” (PROLA) and are linked to DOI identifiers for persistent access.
Related Topics
- American Physical Society – the professional organization that publishes PRA and the broader Physical Review family.
- Physical Review – the historic parent journal from which PRA and other sections originated.
- Physical Review B, C, D, E, Letters – sibling journals covering other subfields of physics.
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics – the primary scientific domain addressed by PRA.
- Quantum Information Science – a rapidly growing area of research frequently featured in PRA.
- Peer‑reviewed scientific journals – the broader category of scholarly periodicals to which PRA belongs.