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APS » Journals » Physical Review Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams » PRSTAB Guidelines for Contributors

Guidelines for Contributors

(February 2002)

The following guidelines provide a brief overview of the editorial process of Physical Review Special Topics - Accelerators and Beams (PRST-AB). First-time contributors and those unfamiliar with the APS journals and editorial process should find them helpful. Others may find them convenient as a brief summary of the electronic services of the APS Editorial Office. For further detail, please consult the "Information for Contributors" and the  "Editorial Policies and Practices" of this journal.

Please be advised that PRST-AB is completely electronic with electronic submission, refereeing, publication, and with the archival record being an online journal. Therefore the journal uses submission procedures which differ in certain aspects from the other Physical Review journals. In particular, PRST-AB does not support hard-copy submissions in any form.

General Information

  • Prepare your papers via REVTeX 4 or Microsoft (MS) Word formats; use proper macros for creating hyperlinks, in particular to the cited bibliographic references.
  • For format and style, consult the Physical Review Style and Notation Guide.
  • Submit and resubmit your papers only via the Web submission server (via direct Web upload or via transfer from an e-print server).
  • Use interactive submission and resubmission forms; supply all information to allow efficient processing; include communications data, appropriate subject section headings, and PACS classification categories.
  • Check the editorial progress on the Author Status Inquiry System; if you need additional information, please send email messages; do not phone.
  • For questions about file eligibility, consult the manuscript preparation instructions for REVTeX and MS WORD; if you need additional help, please contact prstabtex@aps.org.
  • Referees are notified via email of a request for review; the paper under review will be posted, with restricted access, on the PRST-AB Web review server; referees should use interactive review forms to submit their reports.
  • Referee reports and editorial decisions are sent to the authors via email.
  • Upon acceptance of a manuscript for publication, authors will be notified via email; an additional email message is sent when the electronic author proofs are available on the Web for a final check by the authors.
  • The paper is published in the online journal after the final author proofs have been released.

Submission and resubmission steps

  • Visit the APS Web submission server
  • Register as a contributor (author); choose a username and password and provide complete address and communications information.
  • Transfer the manuscript file and complete the submission form (title, authors, etc.).
  • Obtain a submission identification number for your manuscript.
  • Complete the electronic copyright transfer statement.
  • Transfer any additional files (e.g., figures).
  • Update any information as necessary; all updates are acknowledged via email.
  • Complete the submission cover letter, include pertinent information for the editors, and submit the package to PRST-AB. You will receive an email copy of the submission information.
  • Your manuscript will be processed on the next working day.
  • For resubmissions, follow similar steps. Please supply responses to all referee recommendations and separate notes solely for the editors (if necessary).