APS Open Science publishes its first papers

Ten high-quality studies by authors from around the world have found a home in the American Physical Society’s new community-driven, open access journal.

The American Physical Society’s newest open access journal, APS Open Science, has published its inaugural papers. From new insights on controlling the geometry of 3D soliton knots to hybrid materials for ultrafast photonic and optical devices, these studies present rigorous, reliable, and technically sound findings that contribute valuable knowledge to the physics research community.

APS Open Science is designed to broaden participation in physics publishing while upholding the high standards of peer review that define the APS journals. It welcomes a range of article types — traditional research findings, data and code software advances, methods papers, and negative or null results — ensuring that useful, technically valid research from every stage of scientific discovery is recognized and represented in the scientific record. The journal’s first papers illustrate its breadth of scope, featuring articles that describe how to control the topological states of photonic crystals, advances in a model of “smart metals,” a verification of quantum entanglement with limited measurements, and more. The authors of these papers come from four continents, demonstrating the journal’s support for global inclusion.

To support open access, APS Open Science is waiving article publication charges for all submissions and transfers before Sept. 1, 2026 — and, like all other APS journals, it will always waive these charges for researchers in low- and middle-income countries. The journal’s editors will continuously experiment with new initiatives to better serve the community and will invite researchers to test those initiatives and help shape the journal’s evolution. Join the mailing list to keep up with the latest research and for opportunities to get involved.