Computational and experimental methods – a new section for JPCM

By Lucy Smith on March 2, 2015

We are delighted to announce that Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (JPCM) has just launched a brand new section devoted to reporting novel methods, both computational and experimental. In an age where many journals frown upon descriptions of a method within a paper we aim to buck the trend with this new section. There is no doubt that a novel method can contribute significantly to the advancement of science, even if it does not often receive the headlines it deserves.

Jason Gardner – JPCM Editor-in-Chief

Jason Gardner, Editor-in-Chief for JPCM, sums up the need for this section nicely…

Condensed matter physics is full of puzzling anomalies that require a plethora of experimental and computational techniques in order to elucidate the basic forces of nature that produces them. Since the beginning of experimental research, tools have continuously evolved and been developed and are the basis of many fundamental achievements in modern physics.

Computational methods work alongside these to provide a powerful insight into new, and existing, phenomena.

In this new section of JPCM we now offer a venue dedicated to the publishing of new experimental and computational techniques utilized by condensed matter researchers. Within this section we welcome manuscripts describing significant new facilities, tools, methodology and computational methods.

Readers of the journal may know that we already have a rich history of publishing computational methods papers. Codes such as CASTEP, SIESTA, and, more recently, QUANTUM ESPRESSO have graced our pages. By formally launching a section for these papers we hope to acknowledge our commitment to such work. Not wanting to leave anyone feeling left out (some of my best friends are experimentalists – as is our Editor-in-Chief) the Executive Board unanimously chose to expand the journal scope to cover experimental methods too.

Here is some more detailed scope information:

Papers should report a new computational or experimental method, or a significant improvement to an existing method, that could be used in the implementation of non-trivial condensed matter physics. It is not a requirement for authors to present novel physics or example calculations or measurements; however, it may be advantageous to do so. It is sufficient for the novelty to pertain to the method itself.

Authors are welcome to submit codes and data sets to accompany their articles. These will be published online as supplementary data.

So, if you have a novel method you’ve been desperate to share with the community but just haven’t found the right place to show it, surely JPCM should be your first port of call!

Submissions for our new section are welcome here.

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