American Physical Society

The American Physical Society (APS) is a special group for scientists who study physics. It has nearly fifty smaller groups that focus on different parts of physics. The APS works to help people learn more about physics and shares this knowledge through books and meetings.

It publishes many important science journals, such as Physical Review and Physical Review Letters. Every year, the APS holds more than twenty big science meetings where scientists can share their ideas.

Since January 2021, the APS has been led by a chief executive officer named Jonathan Bagger. The APS is also part of a bigger group called the American Institute of Physics.

History

The American Physical Society was started on May 20, 1899, when thirty-six scientists met at Columbia University. Their goal was to help people learn more about physics, and they have worked on this ever since. At first, they mainly held science meetings, about four times a year. In 1913, they began publishing a journal called Physical Review, which started at Cornell University. Later, they started other journals like Reviews of Modern Physics and Physical Review Letters.

Over time, the society grew to include many activities. After the Second World War, they became more involved in helping governments and the public understand science. They also started programs to teach people about physics and work with scientists around the world. Today, they have many groups for different areas of physics and for different places in the United States.

In 1999, they celebrated their 100th year with a big meeting in Atlanta. In 2005, they helped celebrate the World Year of Physics, marking the 100th anniversary of important discoveries by Albert Einstein. One project they started was Einstein@Home, which lets people help with science research using their home computers.

Journals

Main category: American Physical Society publications

The American Physical Society shares knowledge through 17 research journals and an online news website called Physics. These journals cover many areas of science, such as energy, quantum information, and materials. Some of the journals are open for anyone to read, while others are for members only. All members also get a monthly magazine called Physics Today, which is published by the American Institute of Physics (AIP).

• Physical Review Letters (PRL): Shares quick reports on important physics research.
• Physical Review X (PRX): Open access; covers pure and applied physics.
• PRX Energy (PRX Energy): Open access; focuses on energy science.
• PRX Life (PRX Life): Open access; studies living systems with numbers.
• PRX Quantum (PRX Quantum): Open access; explores quantum science.
• Reviews of Modern Physics (RMP): Reviews and talks about big ideas in physics.
• Physical Review A (PRA): Studies atoms and light.
• Physical Review B (PRB): Looks at materials and how they work.
• Physical Review C (PRC): Focuses on the tiny parts inside atoms.
• Physical Review D (PRD): Explores particles, forces, and the universe.
• Physical Review E (PRE): Studies patterns and soft materials.
• Physical Review Research (PRResearch): Open access; covers many physics topics.
• Physical Review Accelerators and Beams (PRAB): Open access; studies machines that speed up particles.
• Physical Review Applied (PRApplied): Uses physics to solve real-world problems.
• Physical Review Fluids (PRFluids): Studies how liquids and gases move.
• Physical Review Materials (PRMaterials): Shares research on new materials.
• Physical Review Physics Education Research (PRPER): Open access; studies how to teach physics better.

Units

The American Physical Society has 47 groups that cover many areas of physics. These groups help scientists share ideas and support each other’s work.

Divisions

Some of the divisions include:

• Astrophysics (DAP)
• Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics (DAMOP)
• Biological Physics (DBIO)
• Chemical Physics (DCP)
• Computational Physics (DCOMP)
• Condensed Matter Physics (DCMP)
• Fluid Dynamics (DFD)
• Gravitational Physics (DGRAV)
• Laser Science (DLS)
• Materials Physics (DMP)
• Nuclear Physics (DNP)
• Particles and Fields (DPF)
• Physics of Beams (DPB)
• Plasma Physics (DPP)
• Polymer Physics (DPOLY)
• Quantum Information (DQI)
• Soft Matter (DSOFT)
• Statistical and Nonlinear Physics (DSNP)

Forums

Forums include:

• Diversity and Inclusion (FDI)
• Early Career Scientists (FECS)
• Education (FEd)
• Graduate Student Affairs (FGSA)
• History and Philosophy of Physics (FHPP)
• Industrial and Applied Physics (FIAP)
• International Physics (FIP)
• Outreach and Engaging the Public (FOEP)
• Physics and Society (FPS)

Sections

Sections include:

• Eastern Great Lakes (EGLS)
• Far West Section (FWS)
• Four Corners (4CS)
• Mid-Atlantic (MAS)
• New England (NES)
• New York State (NYSS)
• Northwest (NWS)
• Prairie Section (PSAPS)
• Southeastern (SESAPS)
• Texas (TSAPS)

Topical groups

Topical groups include:

• Data Science (GDS)
• Energy Research and Applications (GERA)
• Few-Body Systems (GFB)
• Hadronic Physics (GHP)
• Instrument and Measurement Science (GIMS)
• Magnetism (GMAG)
• Medical Physics (GMED)
• Physics Education Research (GPER)
• Physics of Climate (GPC)
• Plasma Astrophysics (GPAP)
• Precision Measurement & Fundamental Constants (GPMFC)
• Shock Compression of Condensed Matter (SHOCK)

Programs

The American Physical Society (APS) runs many helpful programs for physics students and teachers. One of these is the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC), a project with the American Association of Physics Teachers. It helps universities improve how they train physics teachers by using proven methods.

APS also has a Bridge Program to support students from groups that are usually underrepresented in physics. These students get extra classes, guidance, and help preparing for advanced studies.

There are special conferences for women and gender minorities in physics to encourage them to continue in the field. The APS also offers a career center website with job listings and advice for physics students and professionals.

APS works with other groups to host workshops for new physics and astronomy teachers, helping them learn better teaching methods. The society also supports efforts to make physics departments more welcoming to everyone.

Through its outreach program, APS aims to share the excitement of physics with everyone. It runs an educational website, offers grants for educational programs, and highlights important historic physics sites in the United States.

Prizes and awards

Main article: List of American Physical Society prizes and awards

The American Physical Society gives out many awards to honor great work in research and behavior. These awards cover topics such as outstanding leadership, computational physics, lasers, mathematics, and more.