Nature Physics

Nature Physics
Title	Nature Physics
Discipline	Physics
Abbreviation	Nat. Phys.
Publisher	Nature Research
Country	United Kingdom
History	2005–present
Frequency	Monthly
Issn	1745-2473

Nature Physics Nature Physics is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all branches of experimental, theoretical, and applied physics. Launched in 2005 by Nature Research in London, it publishes research articles, reviews, perspectives, and commentary that aim to influence both specialized communities and broader scientific audiences. The journal is embedded in a network of journals and institutions, interacting with researchers affiliated with universities, laboratories, and funding agencies worldwide.

History

Nature Physics was established in 2005 by Nature Research as part of a family of subject-specific titles following the model of the flagship Nature (journal). Its founding occurred amid broader changes in scholarly publishing involving publishers such as Elsevier, IEEE, and Oxford University Press. Early editorial leadership included editors drawn from institutions like University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and École Normale Supérieure. The journal's development paralleled initiatives in open access and digital dissemination championed by organizations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Over time, Nature Physics expanded its remit, introducing special issues, features tied to events like the American Physical Society meetings and the European Physical Society conferences, and commissioning thematic collections in areas intersecting with agencies like the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council.

Scope and Content

Nature Physics covers a wide range of topics within physics including condensed matter, quantum information, particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology, statistical mechanics, and soft matter. The journal publishes original research articles, reviews, News & Views-style commentaries, and Perspectives that often connect to major projects and collaborations such as Large Hadron Collider, Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, and International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Contributions frequently involve researchers from institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Max Planck Society, and CERN. The journal also highlights interdisciplinary work linking physics to fields represented by organizations such as the National Institutes of Health and centers like the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Editorial Structure and Peer Review

The editorial office is staffed by professional editors and an international board of advisory editors drawn from universities and research institutes including Princeton University, University of Oxford, University of Tokyo, and Tsinghua University. Manuscripts undergo initial editorial assessment followed by peer review with referees often from departments at Imperial College London, University of Chicago, ETH Zurich, and University of California, Berkeley. Editorial policy aligns with industry standards advocated by groups like the Committee on Publication Ethics and practices influenced by publishers such as Springer Nature. Decisions on publication balance novelty, technical rigor, and broad interest, with handling editors coordinating revisions and managing interactions with corresponding authors affiliated with labs at places like MIT Lincoln Laboratory and national facilities such as Argonne National Laboratory.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major abstracting and indexing services including Science Citation Index, Scopus, and INSPIRE-HEP. Metadata and citation records are harvested by services operated by organizations such as Clarivate, Elsevier, and NASA Astrophysics Data System. Bibliometric indicators derived from these sources influence institutional assessments at universities including Columbia University and funding evaluations by agencies like Research Councils UK and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Reception and Impact

Nature Physics is regarded as a high-impact venue within communities associated with awards like the Nobel Prize in Physics and prizes such as the Dirac Medal and the Wolf Prize. Its articles are frequently covered in science sections of media outlets including The New York Times, BBC News, and The Guardian (US) and are discussed at scientific gatherings like the Gordon Research Conferences and meetings organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Citation metrics from sources such as Journal Citation Reports and analyses by groups like Eigenfactor contribute to its reputation, while debates about editorial selectivity and representation of diverse institutions involve stakeholders including the Association of American Universities and advocacy groups within the academic community.

Notable Papers and Contributions

Notable contributions published in the journal include influential experimental and theoretical papers that intersect with collaborations at facilities such as CERN, LIGO Scientific Collaboration, and European Space Agency. Landmark topics featured include advances in topological phases related to work in groups at Princeton University and MIT, breakthroughs in quantum entanglement and quantum simulation connected to research from Harvard University and University of Innsbruck, and precision measurements impacting cosmology by teams at Caltech and University of Cambridge. The journal has also published significant results on graphene and two-dimensional materials involving researchers from University of Manchester and Columbia University, as well as foundational contributions to nonequilibrium statistical physics from authors affiliated with Los Alamos National Laboratory and University of Maryland.

Category:Physics journals Category:Monthly journals Category:Academic journals established in 2005