American Physical Society

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

It publishes important science journals, such as Physical Review and Physical Review Letters. Every year, the APS holds big science meetings where scientists 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 began on May 20, 1899, when thirty-six scientists met at Columbia University. They wanted to help people learn more about physics, and they have kept this goal ever since. At first, they held science meetings about four times a year. In 1913, they started a journal called Physical Review, which began at Cornell University. Later, they created other journals like Reviews of Modern Physics and Physical Review Letters.

Over time, the society grew and added many activities. After the Second World War, they helped governments and the public understand science better. They also started programs to teach about physics and work with scientists worldwide. Today, they have many groups for different areas of physics and 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. They started a project called 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 science news through 17 journals and a website called Physics. These journals talk about many science topics, like energy, quantum information, and materials. Some journals are free to read, and some are just for members. Members also get a monthly magazine called Physics Today, which is made 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 groups that cover many areas of physics. These groups help scientists share ideas and support each other.

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) has many programs to help physics students and teachers. One of these is the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC). It works with the American Association of Physics Teachers to help universities train better physics teachers.

APS has a Bridge Program to help students who are usually underrepresented in physics. These students get extra classes, guidance, and help with preparing for advanced studies.

There are special conferences for women and gender minorities in physics to encourage them to keep studying the subject. APS also has a career center website with job listings and advice for physics students and professionals.

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

Through its outreach program, APS tries to share the excitement of physics with everyone. It has 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 awards to honor great work in research. These awards cover topics such as outstanding leadership, computational physics, lasers, mathematics, and more.