Journal Guide
Publishing in Reviews of Modern Physics: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
RMP is a proposal-led review venue for timely physics topics that can orient a broad readership, not a normal upload-first research journal.
Should you submit here?
Submit if rMP articles should orient physicists outside the immediate specialty, with clear introductions and minimal unnecessary jargon. Be careful if rMP is review and proposal oriented, so a completed manuscript without fit discussion can waste time.
Best fit if
RMP articles should orient physicists outside the immediate specialty, with clear introductions and minimal unnecessary jargon
Not ideal if
RMP is review and proposal oriented, so a completed manuscript without fit discussion can waste time
Also compare
~40+
Impact Factor (2024)
Highly selective and proposal-led
Acceptance Rate
Proposal and editorial encouragement first
Time to First Decision
What RMP Publishes
Reviews of Modern Physics publishes in-depth reviews of critical or timely topics that give context to current research trends across fundamental and applied physical science.
- Authoritative reviews and colloquia that inform a broad readership of physicists and adjacent researchers
- Topics with significant research activity, mature literature, and enough author authority for balanced synthesis
- Proposal-led articles where outline, citations, timeliness, and audience breadth matter before full manuscript submission
Editor Insight
“RMP readiness depends on topic timeliness, author authority, outline quality, citation balance, and whether the article can teach physicists outside the narrow specialty.”
What RMP Editors Look For
Broad physicist readership
RMP articles should orient physicists outside the immediate specialty, with clear introductions and minimal unnecessary jargon.
Proposal discipline
Most non-invited reviews begin with a proposal, outline, and key-citation list rather than a cold full manuscript.
Authority and balance
The author team needs enough field standing and citation coverage to synthesize a topic fairly.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past RMP's editorial review:
Treating RMP like a normal research submission
RMP is review and proposal oriented, so a completed manuscript without fit discussion can waste time.
Narrow specialist framing
RMP wants articles that inform broad physicist readership, not only insiders.
Unbalanced citation map
A review proposal with missing schools, methods, or controversies signals weak authority.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against RMP's criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from RMP Authors
Build the proposal before the manuscript
The outline and key citations reveal whether the topic is mature and broad enough.
Write the introduction for physicists outside the subfield
RMP rewards clarity, context, and judgment, not only encyclopedic coverage.
The RMP Submission Process
Proposal fit
Before manuscript writingDraft a proposal with outline, short motivation, author case, and key citation map.
APS submission route
Pre-submissionSubmit the proposal or manuscript through the APS route specified in the current RMP author guidance.
Editorial encouragement
Initial screenEditors assess timeliness, breadth, author authority, and overlap with reserved or invited topics.
Manuscript development
After proposal encouragementIf encouraged, develop the review for broad physicist readability and APS policy compliance.
Peer review
After editor invitationReferees assess scientific accuracy, balance, clarity, and usefulness to the broader physics community.
RMP by the Numbers
| Publisher | American Physical Society |
| Core format | Invited or proposal-encouraged reviews |
| Audience | Broad physics readership |
Before you submit
RMP accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full AI Diagnostic for $29. If you need deeper scientific feedback, choose Expert Review. The full report is calibrated to RMP.
Article Types
Review
In-depth authoritative review of a timely physics topic
Colloquium
Focused review article for a broader readership
Proposal
Preliminary outline and citation map used before many full reviews
Landmark RMP Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Classic review articles in condensed matter physics
- Quantum information and field theory reviews
- Cosmology and astrophysics review syntheses
Preparing a RMP Submission?
Get pre-submission feedback from reviewers who've published in RMP and know exactly what editors look for.
Run Free Readiness ScanNeed expert depth? See Expert Review Options
Primary Fields
Browse by Field
Ready to submit to RMP?
A desk rejection costs months. Get expert feedback before you submit, from scientists who know exactly what RMP editors look for.
Avoid Desk Rejection
Get expert pre-submission review before you submit to RMP. 3-7 day turnaround.
Manuscript Rejected?
Expert revision help to strengthen your manuscript and resubmit with confidence.
Reviewer Response Help
Get expert guidance crafting your response to RMP reviewers.
Need field-expert depth? See Expert Review Options