Citing Sources
As a scholar, you need to cite the sources that you use in your research. Your discipline determines the citation style you use. The field of physics tend to uses the AIP citation style. Citations are important because they:
In-Text Citation
There are two ways to cite references in-text. Select one and use in consistently in your paper.
1. Superscript Numerals
Note: Use consecutive numerical order throughout the text and arrange those references in order on the references page.
2. Name & Year
Reference List
If you are using Superscript Numerals for in-text citations, arrange your references in numerical order. If you used the Author's Last Name and Year in-text citation style, arrange your references alphabetically. The following examples are the most commonly referenced types of sources.
Article (general form)
Author, "Article title." Journal Title abbreviated. Volume, Page Numbers (Year of Publication).
Article Examples
F. Mahligawati, E. Allanas, M. H. Butarbutar, and N. A. Nordin, "Artificial intelligence in physics education: a comprehensive literature review," J. Phys.: Conf Series 2596 (1), 012080 (2023).
R. Plomp, "Rate of decay of auditory sensation," J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 36, 277-282 (1964).
Multiple Authors
Gale Young and R. E. Funderlie, J. Appl. Phys. 44, 5151 (1973).
T. Nenner, H. Tien, and J. B. Fenn, J. Chem. Phys. 63, 5439 (1975).
Article With No Volume or Issue Number
H. W. Taylor, J. Chem. Soc. 1966. 411.
Book
J. Reif, In Laser-surface interactions for new materials production: Tailoring structure and properties (Heidelberg Berlin, Germany, 2009), pp. 19-41.
L. S. Birks, Electron Probe Microanalysis, 2nd ed. (Wiley, New York, 1971), p. 40.
D. K. Edwards, in Proceeding of the 2018 Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Institute, edited by Raymond B. Landis and Gary J. Hordemann (Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2018), pp. 71-72.
About the AIP Style Manual
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) maintains the official citation style guide for physics. The examples have been adapted from this manual and demonstrate how to document common source materials.
Check our print copy for more examples or ask a librarian for help. The print copy is located on a wooden stand next to the reference collection on the first floor of the Hatfield Library.
AIP style manual
by
AIP Style (PDF)
The American Institute of Physics (AIP) Style Manual, fourth edition, is for guidance in writing, editing, and preparing physics manuscripts for publication. It is available online in PDF format, and the print edition is located in the citation manual collection by the reference desk.
About Zotero
Zotero is a free citation app that collects, manages, cites, and shares your research sources. The browser extension saves the citation info about articles, books, and more, then connects with the desktop Zotero to create citations and work with Google Docs (you need both desktop and browser extension).
More info at https://libguides.willamette.edu/zotero
For Zotero help, contact:
Bill Kelm, bkelm@willamette.edu or
John Repplinger, jrepplin@willamette.edu