Physics Reports Submission Guide
A practical Physics Reports submission guide for physicists evaluating their proposed comprehensive review against the journal's invited-only model.
Senior Researcher, Physics
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Specializes in manuscript preparation for physics journals, with direct experience navigating submissions to Physical Review Letters, Nature Physics, and APS-family journals.
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Quick answer: This Physics Reports submission guide is for physicists evaluating whether to send a proposal. Phys. Rep. is invited-only. The standard path is a 1-2 page proposal establishing scope, timing, and author authority.
If you're considering Phys. Rep., the main risk is not formatting. It is proposing a topic where a recent comprehensive review already exists or where author depth doesn't match the physics subfield.
From our manuscript review practice
Of pre-submission proposals we've reviewed for Physics Reports, the most consistent rejection trigger is author authority gaps relative to the proposed physics subfield.
How this page was created
This page was researched from Physics Reports's author guidelines, Elsevier editorial-policy materials, Clarivate JCR data, SciRev community reports, and Manusights internal analysis of pre-submission proposals.
Physics Reports Journal Metrics
Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Impact Factor (2024 JCR) | 14.3 |
5-Year Impact Factor | ~22+ |
CiteScore | 35.0 |
Acceptance Rate | ~15-25% |
First Decision (proposal) | 4-6 weeks |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Source: Clarivate JCR 2024, Elsevier editorial disclosures (accessed April 2026).
Phys. Rep. Submission Requirements and Timeline
Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
Submission portal | Elsevier Editorial Manager |
Initial step | Pre-submission proposal preferred |
Proposal length | 1-2 pages |
Review article length | 50-200 pages |
References | 200-500+ |
Cover letter | Required |
Proposal response | 4-6 weeks |
Total to publication | 9-15 months |
Source: Physics Reports author guidelines.
Submission snapshot
What to pressure-test | What should already be true before proposing |
|---|---|
Topic timing | No comprehensive review on topic in Phys. Rep. or RMP in last 5 years |
Author authority | Sustained primary-research publications in the exact physics subfield |
Scope breadth | Topic supports a 50-200 page comprehensive treatment |
Synthesis argument | Specific framework the field needs |
Length realism | Proposed length matches topic's natural scope |
What this page is for
Use this page when deciding:
- whether the proposed topic has timing headroom
- whether the author team supports the authority Phys. Rep. requires
- whether the scope justifies a 50-200 page treatment
What should already be in the proposal
- specific topic and synthesis value
- "why now" inflection
- differentiation from existing reviews
- author CVs with primary-research evidence
Package mistakes that trigger proposal rejection
- Recent comprehensive coverage of the same topic.
- Author standing in adjacent rather than central physics subfield.
- Synthesis argument missing.
- Scope wrong for the venue.
What makes Physics Reports a distinct target
Phys. Rep. is Elsevier's flagship physics review venue.
Authority-driven selection: reviews are read as authoritative because authors built the field they're synthesizing.
The 5-year timing window: rarely commissions on recently-covered topics.
Comprehensive treatment: Phys. Rep. is known for very long, comprehensive reviews (some exceed 200 pages).
What a strong proposal sounds like
The strongest Phys. Rep. proposals sound like a senior physicist briefing the editor on a synthesis the field needs.
Readiness check
Run the scan against the requirements while they're in front of you.
See score, top issues, and journal-fit signals before you submit.
Diagnosing pre-proposal problems
Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
Topic was recently covered | Sharpen to a clearly distinct angle |
Author authority is thin | Bring in a senior co-author with primary-research depth |
Synthesis argument unclear | Articulate the specific framework |
How Physics Reports compares against nearby alternatives
Method note: the comparison reflects published author guidelines and Manusights internal analysis. We have not personally been Phys. Rep. authors; the boundary is publicly documented editorial behavior. Pros and cons are based on documented editorial scope.
Factor | Physics Reports | Reviews of Modern Physics | Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics | Nature Reviews Physics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best fit (pros) | Comprehensive physics synthesis (50-200 pages) by leading authority | Definitive long-form synthesis | Annual broad-audience condensed matter synthesis | Broad physics audience synthesis |
Think twice if (cons) | Topic doesn't justify 50+ pages | Topic is broader than condensed matter | Topic is outside condensed matter | Synthesis is highly specialized |
Submit If
- the proposed topic supports a 50-200 page comprehensive synthesis
- the corresponding author has sustained primary-research publications in the physics subfield
- a specific recent inflection justifies the timing
- no comparable Phys. Rep. or RMP piece covered the topic recently
Think Twice If
- the author team is established in adjacent rather than central physics
- a comprehensive Phys. Rep. or RMP piece appeared in the last 5 years
- the proposal is "advances in [topic]" without a synthesis argument
- the topic would land better in Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics or specialty venue
What to read next
Before drafting the proposal, run it through a Physics Reports proposal-readiness check.
In our pre-submission review work with manuscripts targeting Physics Reports
In our pre-submission review work with proposals targeting Phys. Rep., three patterns generate the most consistent rejections.
In our experience, roughly 35% of Phys. Rep. proposal rejections trace to author-authority mismatch. In our experience, roughly 30% involve timing collisions with recent comprehensive reviews. In our experience, roughly 20% arise from proposals reading as comprehensive surveys without a specific synthesis argument.
- Author standing is in adjacent rather than central physics subfield. Phys. Rep. editors weigh authority heavily. We observe proposals from authors with primary research in adjacent areas routinely declined.
- A comprehensive review of the topic appeared recently. Phys. Rep. editors check RMP, Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics, and recent Phys. Rep. issues. Proposals overlapping recent reviews are routinely declined.
- The proposal is a survey, not a synthesis. Editors look for a specific framework. Proposals framed as "comprehensive review of recent progress" are routinely returned with the suggestion to articulate what specifically the synthesis will reorganize. A Phys. Rep. proposal-readiness check can identify whether the package supports a successful submission.
Clarivate JCR 2024 bibliometric data places Phys. Rep. among top physics review journals. SciRev author-reported data confirms 4-6 week proposal evaluation windows.
Frequently asked questions
Physics Reports is invited-only. The standard path is a pre-submission proposal to the editor: scope, why now, candidate authors, proposed length. If accepted, the editor invites a full manuscript. Unsolicited full submissions are accepted but evaluated against the same standards.
Comprehensive review articles synthesizing major physics topics: condensed matter, particle physics, astrophysics, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, biophysics, optics. Reviews typically run 50-200 pages with 200-500+ references. Original research is not published.
Acceptance rate runs ~15-25% across proposals. Median time from proposal acceptance to publication is 9-15 months. The journal is Elsevier's flagship physics review venue.
Most rejections involve timing collisions with recent Phys. Rep. or Reviews of Modern Physics pieces, author authority gaps, or scope too narrow for 50-200 page treatment.
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