Physics and Astronomy
This is a subject guide for research in physics.
Research & Instruction Librarian
Best Bets
- PROLA (Physical Review Online Archive) & Physical Review Online JournalsPROLA provides index and electronic full-text access to all American Physical Society (APS journals)
- AIP Publishing This link opens in a new window
Indexes and abstracts from physics, astronomy, and engineering journals and conference proceedings from the American Institute of Physics. Allows browsing and searching within individual journals.
- Web of Science This link opens in a new windowIndexes information covering disciplines in the sciences, arts and humanities, and social sciences. Includes six citation databases: the Science Citation Index, the Social Sciences Citation Index, the Arts & Humanities Citation Index, the Book Citation Index, Current Chemical Reactions, and Index Chemicus.
- Google ScholarGoogle Scholar searches for scholarly literature on the web. It's a good starting place, but not comprehensive enough to be the only place to do in-depth research. For more precise searching and more content, you should also use library-subscribed databases such as Web of Science.
Featured Journals
- The Observatory
The Observatory is a publication, variously described as a journal, a magazine and a review, devoted to astronomy. It appeared regularly starting in 1877, and it is now published every two months. - The Journal of Applied Physics
The Journal of Applied Physics is an influential international journal publishing significant new experimental and theoretical results of applied physics research.
Local Resources and Organizations
A handful of links to local resources and organizations here in the Twin Cities to help kick-start your research process.
- Macalester Physics Student-Faculty ResearchThe Department of Physics and Astronomy believes independent research that complements the traditional major courses is an important part of the undergraduate physics major experience. Student-faculty research often takes place full time during the summer months where the student is financially supported by internal or external grants.
- Fine Theoretical Physics InstituteThe William I. Fine Theoretical Physics Institute (FTPI) was established in 1987 as part of the School of Physics and Astronomy, with the goal of conducting research in theoretical physics at a world-class level. The most important function of FTPI is to produce significant, exciting and sound theoretical physics that will have an impact on physics as a whole. To this end the Institute provides a meeting place for theorists from around the globe to exchange and develop ideas. FTPI sponsors several workshops annually and runs ongoing programs, such as the visiting short- and long-term scholar program. Through these and other outreach programs, the Institute serves to advance theoretical physics and to further develop its links to other science and engineering research disciplines, industrial research initiatives, and other academic sectors.