The scientific journal article is still an important medium
for the publication of research results in physics. Journals may
contain different types of material:
Full Papers.
These have a well-defined format - an introduction which often
provides background information and a statement of the purpose of
the work, a description of the methods used and the results or
findings, and conclusions with a discussion of their significance
and value. An abstract is usually provided. References are given
in the recognised style of the journal.
Examples of Journals collected at KTU Library:
Zurnal Eksperimentalnoi i teoreticeskoi fiziki. Fiziceskij zurnal.
Leningrad - Moskva, 1948-
Inzenerno - fiziceskij zurnal. Minsk, 1968-
Institut obscej fiziki. Trudy. Moskva, 1965-
American Journal of Physics. New York, 1960-
The American Physical Society. Bulletin of the American Physical
Society. New York, 1968-
Applied Physics Letters. New York, 1960-
Fortschritte der Physik. Berlin,1967-
These are used for the presentation of limited findings. They are usually not longer than four or five pages. There are another reports much longer.
Example:
Activity Report: July 1993 - June 1994. Linkoping, 1994.-209
p.
This is the form for the publication of preliminary results or findings. In the intense competitive world of modern science, an author, or authors may want to establish priority for their work. They publish brief communications which concentrate on the findings and the conclusions drawn. These short communications may well be followed by a later full paper.
Are collections of information from a variety of sources. This
information has been critically evaluated by a subject specialist.
Example:
Physical Review and Physical Review Letters. Index. New
York, 1970-
Reviews of Modern Physics. Manchaster, 1967-
It is important to distinguish between "refereed"
journals and "non-refereed" journals. In the
former case, articles submitted for publication are read and
evaluated by fellow scientists working in the same field. Usually
two or more independent assessors read the article for validity,
quality and originality etc. This refereeing practice provides an
indication of quality, at the expense of delay in time of
publication.
The average time between submission and actual publication is
between 3 and 10 months in physics . Journals published by
leraned and professional associations, as well as those published
by a number of "academic commercial publishers" are
nearly always refereed. If in doubt, read the instructions to
authors (often given on the last page). These usually provide
information on refereeing practice.
Example:
Referativnyj zurnal. Fizika./Akademija Nauk SSSR. Moskva,1954-
Fizika za rubezom: Sbornik naucno - populiarnych statei. Moskva,
1982-1991.
Index and abstract publications will allow you to search for journal articles on a particular subject or by a particular author. These are published at regular intervals - weekly, monthly or quarterly and are usually brought together, or cumulated, annually or for even longer intervals. Most of the abstracts and indexes are now produced from electronic Databases. These can be searched either online from a personal computer or in the form of a compact disk product or CD-ROM.