JAAS - Scope, standards and article types

1.0 Scope and Standards 

Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (JAAS) publishes original and significant research in the fundamentals of elemental analysis and isotope ratio determinations within all fields of application. The journal is published monthly, and includes full papers, communications, review articles, editorials and comments, in addition to the Atomic Spectrometry Updates (ASU) literature reviews. 

Articles on all aspects of the subject are acceptable, including fundamental studies, novel instrument developments and practical analytical applications. Improvements in sensitivity, development of simultaneous detection capabilities, development of further ionization sources allowing one to access molecular and elemental information, providing understanding and reduction of matrix effects within existing plasma sources, solving problems of mass bias for isotope ratio determinations, exploring new isotope systems or investigating direct solid sampling techniques are encouraged. 

As well as atomic absorption, atomic emission and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, papers are welcomed on mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence/emission spectrometry and secondary emission spectrometry. Articles describing the measurement of molecular species where these relate to the characterization of sources normally used for the production of atoms, or concerning for example indirect methods of analyses can also be considered for publication. Articles describing the development and applications of hybrid techniques (e.g., GC coupled AAS and HPLC-ICP) are welcome. Manuscripts on other subjects of direct interest to spectroscopists including sample preparation, dissolution and analyte preconcentration procedures, as well as statistical interpretation and use of spectrometric data will also be considered for publication. All contributions are judged on originality and quality of scientific content, and appropriateness of length to content of new science. 

2.0 Article Types 

2.1 Communications 
These must report preliminary research findings that are highly original, of immediate interest and are likely to have a high impact on the analytical spectroscopy community. Communications are given priority treatment, are fast-tracked through the publication process and appear prominently at the front of the journal in a dedicated Communications section. The key aim of Communications is to present innovative chemical concepts with important analytical implications. As such, Communications need only demonstrate 'proof of principle': it is not expected that the analytical figures of merit will necessarily surpass those of existing, highly refined analytical techniques. Authors should provide at the time of submission a short paragraph explaining why their work justifies urgent publication as a Communication. Ideally, a Full Paper in JAAS should follow each Communication. There is no page limit for communications in JAAS, however the length should be commensurate with scientific content. Authors are encouraged to make full use of Electronic Supplementary Information in order to present more concise articles. 

2.2 Full Papers 
These must represent a significant development in the particular field of analysis and are judged according to originality, quality of scientific content and contribution to existing knowledge. Although there is no page limit for Full Papers, and appropriateness of length to content of new science will taken into consideration. 

2.3 Technical Notes 
These should be brief descriptions of instrumental developments, techniques or applications that offer definite advantages over those already available. Technical Notes should offer practical solutions to problems that are of interest to the JAAS readership and merit publication, but neither a Full Paper nor a Communication is justified. Publication as a Technical Note does not diminish the importance of the article. This article type is a recognition that much of the presented material has been reported previously, and allows a focus on the improvements in the method and the results obtained. Wherever appropriate authors of Technical Notes are encouraged to use references to the established technique, explaining in full only what is novel about the proposed approach. The length of a Technical Note should be commensurate with its scientific content. Authors are encouraged to make full use of Electronic Supplementary Information in order to present more concise articles. 

2.4 Review Articles 
A range of review articles are published in JAAS. Potential writers should contact Professor Joanna Szpunar (Reviews Editor) or the Editorial Office before embarking on their work. 

2.4.1 Critical Review 
Critical Reviews should be definitive, evaluative reviews and must provide a critical overview of the chosen topic area. Authors should be selective in the choice of material, offering personal opinions where appropriate, whilst still covering all the important topics in the field, and indicating possible future developments.

2.4.2 Tutorial Review 
Tutorial reviews are written from a personal point of view, and ideally should be the first review of a new significant area, bringing together the results of various primary publications. Tutorial reviews are intended to interest a large number of readers and should be written at a level that could be understood by an advanced undergraduate student. The intention is to increase awareness and understanding of the chosen topic area for workers/researchers already involved in the field, workers changing the direction/emphasis of their work and a broad based non-specialist (graduate and post-graduate) audience, with a view to informing them of the most recent developments in the area. 

2.4.3 Perspective 
Perspectives are written at a philosophical level either on a particular aspect of analytical spectroscopy or on a topic of relevance or potential relevance to the community. The article should be easily understandable to a non-specialist in the field. At the same time, Perspectives should provide an authoritative discussion of the area concerned. Authors are encouraged to identify areas where further developments are imminent, in urgent need of being addressed, and any areas that may be of significance to the analytical science community in general. 

2.5 Comments 
These are a medium for the discussion and exchange of scientific opinions concerning material published in JAAS. Submitted Comments will normally be forwarded to the authors of the work being discussed, and these authors will be given the opportunity to submit a reply for publication together with the Comment. For publication of a Comment or a reply, they must be judged by the referees to be scientifically significant and of interest to the readership of JAAS. Comments and replies will be reviewed in the normal way, but additional referees will be consulted if there is an unresolved disagreement between correspondents, or where there is doubt as to the significance of the Comment or Reply. Comments should be brief and should not normally exceed a length of one printed journal page. Publication will take place only when all parties have had an opportunity to respond appropriately.