Physical Review Letters Submission Process

At submission, PRL requires a 100-word paragraph explaining why the paper meets the journal's criteria. This is not a formality. The justification is the first thing the divisional editor reads, and it directly influences whether the paper goes to review or gets desk rejected.

The paragraph should answer three questions:

• what is the main result?
• why does it matter beyond one specialist subfield?
• what makes this Letter-worthy rather than a full article in Physical Review B or another APS journal?

A weak justification that restates the abstract or claims generic importance without evidence gives the editor a reason to stop early. A strong justification names the specific broader audience and explains the physics significance concretely.

This is where PRL differs most from other journals. Instead of a single editor-in-chief, PRL uses divisional editors who specialize in different areas of physics.

Your paper gets routed to the divisional editor responsible for your subfield. That editor reads the justification paragraph and abstract first, then decides whether the paper warrants external review.

About 35% of PRL submissions are desk rejected at this stage. The editor is asking:

• does this paper report a result that matters beyond one narrow specialty?
• is the physics significant enough for PRL rather than a more specialized APS journal?
• is the presentation clear enough that a broad physics audience could follow the main argument?

Desk rejections typically arrive within 1 to 3 weeks. The turnaround is deliberately fast so authors can redirect to a more appropriate venue without long delays.

Papers that pass triage go to 2 to 3 expert reviewers. PRL reviewers are asked to evaluate:

• scientific soundness and technical rigor
• significance of the result within physics
• broad interest beyond the immediate subfield
• clarity and conciseness of presentation
• whether the length is appropriate for the content

Reviewers are asked to return reports within two weeks, though actual turnaround varies. First decisions after review typically arrive 4 to 8 weeks after submission.

Understanding the decision

• Accept: uncommon on first round at PRL. Usually follows a clean revision.
• Minor revisions: the paper is essentially accepted. Respond carefully and promptly.
• Major revisions: substantive concerns. You have 90 days. The revised paper usually returns to the same reviewers.
• Reject after review: the reviewers or editor concluded the paper does not meet PRL's significance threshold. Consider Physical Review B or another APS journal.

A justification paragraph that reads like a second abstract

The justification is an argument, not a summary. Do not restate what the paper does. Explain why it matters broadly. Editors can read the abstract themselves.

Submitting a paper too long for PRL

If the body exceeds 3,750 words, the system may flag it. More importantly, a paper that needs more space than a Letter allows often belongs in a full-length journal. Editors notice when authors have compressed a PRB-scale paper into PRL format.

Claiming broad significance without naming the audience

"This result is broadly relevant" is not a justification. "This result resolves a long-standing question in condensed matter physics and changes how experimentalists in quantum transport design measurements" is.

Formatting for a different journal

Papers reformatted from non-APS journals often retain incompatible reference styles, heading structures, or notation. Use the REVTeX template from the start.