During its two hundred and thirteen year history, the Philosophical Magazine has published scholarly articles on all aspects of science. Its name dates from a period when ‘natural philosophy’ embraced all aspects of science: physics, chemistry, astronomy, medicine, botany, biology, zoology and geology, in addition to natural phenomena of many kinds: volcanic eruptions, lightning strikes and aurora. In the Preface to Volume 1 , the Journal's aims were proclaimed: ‘To diffuse philosophical knowledge among every class of society, and to give the public as early an account as possible of everything new or curious in the scientific world, both at home and on the continent’.
During the launch of Philosophical Magazine in 1798, many classic papers have been published in its pages, including notable articles by Faraday, Joule, Lord Kelvin, Clausius, Maxwell, Lord Rayleigh, Michelson, Rydberg, Zeeman, J.J. Thomson, Rutherford, Millikan, Bohr and de Broglie, to name just some of the great scientists who have contributed articlesFootnote1.
Since the latter part of the twentieth century, Philosophical Magazine began to focus on topics within materials science and condensed matter physics. In 1978, the journal was divided into two Parts: Philosophical Magazine A (for materials science) and Philosophical Magazine B (for condensed matter physics), in recognition of the distinction between these two fields. From 2004 until the end of 2010, the two parts were merged in a single journal but now materials science and condensed matter physics papers are again identified explicitly as belowFootnote2:
In general, the Editors consider for publication articles describing original results of experimental and theoretical research, in addition to computational simulations and conceptual ideas, relating to the structure and properties of solids.
Part A: Materials Science
This section will list papers in the above fields where, in general, the phenomena and interpretation are on a microscopic or atomic scale, for example physical, mechanical and defect-related properties.
Part B: Condensed Matter Physics
This section will list papers in the above fields where, in general, the phenomena and interpretation are on an electronic scale, for example optical, electrical and magnetic properties.
These definitions are not binding: papers on quantum-related phenomena, even on an atomic scale, are more likely to be classed as ‘physics’ and be listed as ‘B’ papers, whereas those reporting optical measurements to characterise alloys as, say, a function of composition will be considered as ‘materials science’ and be listed as ‘A’ papers.
For both Parts A and B of the Journal, papers on novel measurements, phases, phenomena, and new types of material are encouraged. Contributions related to fundamental properties of devices or on applications will not be excluded but all submitted manuscripts are expected to present original and exciting science, and not simply to report marginal advances or to offer an uncritical compilation of data.
Philosophical Magazine Letters carries articles in the fields covered by both Parts A and B of Philosophical Magazine, but is reserved for important findings and advances of a topical nature, for which speed of publication is essential. Contributions to Philosophical Magazine Letters are restricted in length to 3,000 words and normally no more than four figures (traditionally, 8 printed pages)Footnote3.
Submissions to Philosophical Magazine and Philosophical Magazine Letters should be made online at: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/pm-pml.
Notes
Notes
1. Read historical papers in the Philosophical Magazine Archive Supplement Volume 90, Supplement 1: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title∼db=all∼content=g919467142.
2. Full Philosophical Magazine Aims and Scope information is available at: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tphm.
3. Full Philosophical Magazine Letters Aims and Scope information is available at: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tphl.