Open Access Policy

  • I. Overview

    Progress in Physics is a fully open access journal committed to making high-quality physics research freely available to the global scientific community. All articles published in our journal are immediately and permanently accessible online without subscription or registration barriers. We adhere to the principles of open science, ensuring that knowledge is shared widely to accelerate scientific progress.

    II. Open Access Model: Diamond Open Access

    Feature Description
    Free to Read All articles are immediately accessible to anyone, anywhere
    Free to Publish No article processing charges (APCs) for authors
    Free to Reuse Content can be shared, adapted, and built upon with proper attribution
    Copyright Retained Authors retain full copyright of their work
    We operate under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) —a balanced approach to open access that protects author rights while promoting broad dissemination. We cover all publication costs through institutional support, ensuring that neither readers nor authors face financial barriers to accessing or publishing research. Authors retain copyright of their work, while readers are granted free access to read, download, and share articles for non-commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original authors.

    III. Licensing: CC BY 4.0

    All articles published in Progress in Physics are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). . This license grants broad permissions for non-commercial use while ensuring that authors retain copyright and receive proper credit for their work. Readers are free to read, download, copy, distribute, and share articles for non-commercial purposes, provided that appropriate attribution is given to the original authors and source.

    What CC BY 4.0 Allows

    • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
    • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially
    • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits

    Under the Following Terms

    • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

    IV. Copyright and Ownership

    Aspect Journal Author
    Copyright Retains first publication right Retains full copyright
    Reuse Rights Can archive and promote published content Can reuse, republish, and distribute freely
    Commercial Use Cannot sell exclusive access Can use in books, patents, or commercial products
    Moral Rights Must maintain article integrity Right to be identified as author
    Authors sign a License to Publish (not a copyright transfer agreement), granting the journal a non-exclusive license to publish, archive, and distribute the article for non-commercial purposes, while retaining all other rights, including copyright. The journal holds the Version of Record (VoR) — the definitive, citable version of the article. Under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license, readers are permitted to freely access, share, and adapt the work for non-commercial use, provided that proper attribution is given to the original authors.

    V. Article Archiving and Preservation

    We are committed to the long-term preservation and accessibility of all published content. Our archiving strategy includes:

    Initiative Description
    Institutional Repository All articles archived in Nanjing University's institutional repository
    National Databases Synchronization with CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases
    International Indexing Submission to DOAJ, Scopus, and Web of Science
    Digital Preservation Participation in CLOCKSS and LOCKSS networks
    Metadata Standards Compliance with Dublin Core and JATS XML standards

    VI. Publication Fees

    No Article Processing Charges (APCs)

    Progress in Physics does not charge authors any of the following:
    • Submission fees
    • Article processing charges (APCs)
    • Page charges
    • Color figure charges (online)
    • Open access fees

    All publication costs are covered by institutional support from Nanjing University and the Chinese Physical Society, ensuring truly barrier-free open access.


    IX. Frequently Asked Questions

    Q1: Is there any cost to publish in Progress in Physics?
    A: No. We are a Diamond Open Access journal with no article processing charges, submission fees, or page charges. Optional fees apply only for print edition color figures or reprints if requested.
    Q2: Who owns the copyright of my published article?
    A: You retain full copyright. You grant the journal a license to publish and archive the article, but all other rights remain with you.
    Q3: Can I post my article on my personal website or repository?
    A: Yes. You can share your article anywhere, including personal websites, institutional repositories, and academic networks like ResearchGate. The CC BY license encourages wide dissemination.
    Q4: What is the Version of Record (VoR)?
    A: The VoR is the final, typeset, and citable version of your article as published on our website. This is the authoritative version for citation purposes, though you may share earlier versions as well.
    Q5: Will my article be preserved long-term?
    A: Yes. We are committed to perpetual access. Articles are archived in multiple repositories and preservation networks to ensure availability for future generations.
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