APS allows authors who have published research in the Physical Review journals to alter or update their published names and/or personal pronouns for any reason. These changes will be made to the HTML and PDF versions of all published papers in the Physical Review journals. Names in the reference list can also be changed, provided those articles have already been updated.
There are two options for updating published names:
If you would like to initiate the process of changing your published name in any Physical Review journal article, complete this form and a representative from the journal will reach out to you with further instructions.
Can I update my published name for all of my publications with APS?
The earliest possible correction depends on the journal. For any journal launched since 2010, corrections are possible for all papers. For older journals, such as Physical Review Letters and PRA-E, and for Reviews of Modern Physics, corrections should be possible going back about 20 years. We will update with more exact details once we have completed the pilot of this process.
What can be updated in publications under this policy?
What CANNOT be updated in publications under this policy?
The following updates are also out of scope for the current version of our policy, but we are actively working to find solutions to each of these issues:
Can I use the form on this page to fix inconsistencies/errors in how my name is presented in my papers?
No, please contact help@aps.org directly to report misspellings or other errors; such corrections are typically allowed for up to a year after publication. However, we do not support the addition or removal of initials for the purposes of consistency, only as part of a name change request.
Will my publications appear in search results on APS’ website if someone searches for my prior (previously published under) name?
No. In order to support name change anonymity, prior name searching has not been enabled on APS’ website. We are exploring the feasibility of offering prior name searching to authors in the future, which, when an author opts in, would enable searches using an author’s prior name even if that name no longer appears in the published article.
As the scope of this policy does not currently cover changes to all papers that cite an author’s updated paper, a previously published name could appear when using a non-APS search engine.
When will changes made to APS journals appear in other non-APS databases, search indexes, etc.?
APS can address in-house databases, and is communicating name changes to outside organizations. However, we cannot guarantee the timing of or appearance of these changes in non-APS publications or services.
Will you update my name in the APS editorial database?
Yes, at your request we will update your name as a referee and an author in our internal databases.
Will my APS Membership account be updated to reflect my updated name?
You can update your name at any time by logging into my.aps.org. For any further questions about APS Membership accounts, please contact membership@aps.org.
Do I need to provide any proof or documentation of my name change?
No documentation is required to prove the author’s change in name; however, authors requesting a name change must complete and sign the request form to initiate the process. Request forms will be treated as confidential, and only used to fulfill name change requests.
Will the co-authors of a previously published paper be notified of a name change?
Authors requesting a name change can choose not to notify their co-authors. However, you can request that APS notify your co-authors.
The name change request and update will be kept confidential and not shared with any outside parties by APS, nor will it be indicated on the updated paper unless the author chooses to make the change overt.
Are there any limits as to how long after original publication you are able to accommodate name changes?
APS has not established any date before which we will not consider changes. Due to the evolution of publication systems over time, we will have to work through technical situations for older content as they arise, but we are committed to making the changes as efficiently as possible.
How long will it take for the change to be effective?
We cannot guarantee an expected turnaround time, as we are currently piloting this process to understand how long the changes will take and testing this process. An appropriate APS staff member will keep you up-to-date on the status of your request, and we will update this FAQ as we continue to pilot this process.