Journal Journal of Chemical Physics

Aim & Scope

The Journal of Chemical Physics (JCP) is an international journal that publishes cutting edge research in all areas of modern chemical physics and physical chemistry. In addition to Articles, JCP also publishes brief Communications of significant new findings, Perspectives on the latest advances in the field, and Special Topic issues. The topical sections of the journal with brief descriptions follow. Theoretical Methods and Algorithms The Theoretical Methods and Algorithms section of JCP publishes advanced theoretical and computational methods of relevance to essentially all branches of chemical physics. The topics covered include, but are not restricted to, the methods of electronic structure theory (density functional theory, wave function theory, coupled cluster methods, multi-reference methods, stochastic methods, and methods for strongly correlated systems), methods for gas phase dynamics (inelastic and reactive scattering, non-adiabatic dynamics, chemical reaction rates, and vibrational spectroscopy), and methods that address the quantum and classical dynamics and thermodynamics of materials, biomolecules, and condensed phase systems (exact and perturbative methods for open quantum systems, path integral methods for nuclear quantum effects, classical force field development, enhanced sampling methods, rare event sampling methods, coarse graining, and multi-scale modelling). The use of machine learning techniques to enhance these methods is of particular current interest, as are theoretical papers in emerging areas such as quantum computing and strong light-matter interactions. Papers on software packages that implement chemical physics methods are also welcome. For specific requirements for software papers, please reference this editorial. Advanced Experimental Techniques The Advanced Experimental Techniques section of JCP publishes significant breakthroughs in experimental methodologies that probe structure, dynamics, and reactivity and are likely to open new avenues of research in chemical physics. We encourage the submission of manuscripts in topics that include, but are not restricted to, advanced time- and frequency-domain measurements such as multidimensional and nonlinear spectroscopies spanning X-ray to THz regimes, novel applications of photoelectron spectroscopy, and EPR and NMR methods. Advances in nanoscale imaging and in combining spectroscopic and spatially-resolved measurements are also encouraged, as are novel approaches to probe molecular systems under extreme and operando conditions and densities ranging from single molecules to clusters and the condensed phase. Papers in this section increase the visibility of experimental advances and stimulate the integration of experiment and theory within the chemical physics community. Atoms, Molecules, and Clusters The Atoms, Molecules, and Clusters section of JCP publishes primarily experimental and theoretical advances in atomic, molecular, and cluster sciences. The topics covered in the section include, but are not limited to, spectroscopic studies of atoms, molecules, and clusters both in the gas phase and condensed phases and in all charge states, chemical reaction dynamics, photodissociation dynamics, and chemical kinetics. JCP is especially interested in papers that report new experimental or theoretical advances or provide new physical and chemical insights. High-accuracy computations on atoms, diatomics, and small molecules may not be appropriate for JCP unless the application represents a significant advance of special interest to the chemical physics community. Studies showing unexpected chemical bonding and new concepts of chemical bonds in exotic molecular or cluster systems are also encouraged. Liquids, Glasses, and Crystals The Liquids, Glasses, and Crystals section of JCP publishes significant advances in fundamental topics such as molecular dynamics, phase transitions, computer simulations, glass transition, nucleation, statistical thermodynamics, amorphous materials, spectroscopy of condensed matter, nuclear quantum effects, transport properties, crystalline solids, electrolytes, and water. JCP encourages the submission of manuscripts describing exciting developments in emerging topics, including deep eutectic solvents, water desalination, hydrates, confined liquids, active matter, force-field development, and computer simulation software. Materials, Surfaces, and Interfaces The Materials, Surfaces, and Interfaces section of JCP publishes significant advances in fundamental understanding of structure, dynamics, properties, and chemical reactivity of materials, surfaces, and interfaces. JCP is interested in materials of various dimensionalities and morphologies (low-dimensional, nano-, porous, molecular solid and bulk materials) and various functions (electronic, optical, magnetic, plasmonic, photonic, light harvesting, energy and charge transfer/transport, energy conversion and storage, catalysis, novel light-matter interaction, spintronics, quantum information, etc.). We encourage submissions that explore chemical systems of any size or complexity through the eyes of physical phenomena, concepts, and theories. Descriptions of new experimental or theoretical techniques and their application to materials, surfaces, and interfaces are also encouraged. For more detail on the JCP criteria for consideration of manuscripts in this section, please refer to this editorial. Polymers and Soft Matter The Polymers and Soft Matter section of JCP publishes significant advances in the chemical physics of systems structured at the nano- and micro- scale. We welcome experimental, theoretical, and numerical contributions in emerging and rapidly developing topics, including smart and functional self-assembling systems, dynamic covalent networks, polymers with complex architectures, DNA nanotechnology, dynamics in and dynamical arrest of, colloidal gels and glasses, and the phase behavior of anisotropic and patchy particles and soft networks, among others. We also encourage manuscripts crossing the boundaries between soft matter and biological physics, including, for example, connections between polymer physics and intrinsically disordered proteins, colloidal self-assembly and protein aggregates, colloid phase behavior, and intracellular liquid-liquid transitions, as well as theoretical and numerical methods specifically developed to tackle mesoscale modelling of polymers and soft materials. Biological Molecules and Networks The Biological Molecules and Networks section of JCP publishes significant advances in the biochemical physics and biophysics of systems at the molecular, cellular, and organismal scales. The focus encompasses systems composed of proteins, nucleic acids, membranes, and carbohydrates, including channels, transporters, receptors, molecular machines, motors, chromosomes, signaling and metabolic networks, and nanoscale functional assemblies, as well as genome, cellular, and systems biophysics. We welcome studies employing experimental, theoretical, and numerical approaches addressing principle-driven fundamental research that offer new insights into experimental observations or propose testable hypotheses, as well as problem-driven topics of biological significance, with clear mechanistic underpinnings. We also encourage manuscripts crossing the boundary between soft matter and biological physics, including connections between polymer physics and intrinsically disordered proteins, colloidal self-assembly, and protein aggregates, colloid phase behavior, and intracellular liquid-liquid transitions, as well as theoretical and numerical methods specifically developed to tackle mesoscale modeling of polymers, soft materials, and biomaterials. ^[1]

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