Guidelines for Authors

C. Conferences and Workshops

C.1. Preprints

Limited selection of papers submitted to conferences, Workshops, etc., on topics related to superconductivity can be pre-published in the Forum only if the conference, Workshop or other professional meeting Organizers and the intended Publisher of that meeting’s papers expressly agree to it. In each such case, a separate announcement will be made by SNF. All selected manuscripts will be pre-published as received, without any editorial changes, with SNF serving only as an electronic archive. The layout and all style instructions of the meeting’s publisher will apply and must be adhered to. The appropriate Publisher’s or meeting’s template should be used if available, per meeting’s rules. All meeting pre-print manuscripts can be submitted in the PDF format, but the Microsoft WORD format is preferable.

Currently, selected plenary and invited or tutorial preprints are individually invited by SNF. Contributed Preprints are usually selected via SNF Contests for Best Contributed Papers announced to all authors of contributed manuscripts.

NOTE: The conference/meeting Publisher retains exclusive Copyright for the final peer-reviewed and published paper. Immediately after the appearance of the peer-reviewed and Publisher-accepted version of a conference paper online the author should notify [email protected] and provide the Publisher’s paper number, the DOI of that paper and the link (URL) to it in the online publication.

C.2 Slide Presentations and Posters

In addition to pre-publishing conference manuscripts as electronic preprints, SNF also publishes selected conference slide and poster presentations, if these are meritorious and especially when not written down in the paper form. Slide presentations should be properly annotated to make each slide completely comprehensible to the readers, if not self-explanatory. Alternatively, the author can submit an explanatory extended abstract, 1 to 4 pages long. Poster presentations require such extended abstract. However, this is not necessary when the author simultaneously submits to SNF his manuscript.

The PPT format provides very convenient means to annotate slides. Due to the present format limitations, annotations should not contain mathematical symbols, expressions or equations. Greek symbols should be spelled out (“alpha” instead of a, etc.). Any slide presentation may be submitted either in PPT or PDF format. The PPT format is preferred.

Presentations are acceptable in sections: R and ST. The applicable numerical code then becomes RP or STP. In the case an accepted presentation contains any confidential or copyrighted material (graphs, photos, tables, et.), it is the author’s responsibility to obtain the permission of the copyright owner. When that is not possible, the author should remove the copyrighted material and replace with the note “copyrighted material removed”.

E. Detailed Guidelines for Papers in Sections R, RN, and ST(H)

Reviews (R)

1. The main purpose of a review or overview of an applied topic is to provide professionally correct and possibly also tutorial information and insight into:
   • The scientific/technical background or principle of the topic or field, its main characteristics (technical, economical, with “essential numbers”),
   • the role of superconductivity and advantages it provides,
   • In the case of major project endeavors, the main obstacles (scientific, technical, economic, political, etc.) to success and possible problem solutions, alternatives,
   • In the case of major project endeavors, the status and projections.
2. Reviews of fundamental topics should clearly answer questions such as “what?”, “why?” and “how?” The writing should be gauged primarily at professional members of the superconductivity community not working in the reviewed field, but, if possible, be also of some interest to those who do. It may be also aiming at economic and political decision-makers, who seek authoritative professional opinion and advice. The length limit is 30 pages using an SNF template - WORD template or LaTex template, not counting the reference list at the end. Although invited, all manuscripts are subjected to reviewing prior to acceptance. Plenary conference manuscripts and also annotated slide presentations are subjected to evaluation by peers and editorial selection. In selected slide presentations only the annotations are reviewed.

Regional News, History (RN)

1. Regional news may review superconductivity activities and related problems in a country or region, an institution, group or project network. Also, historical events related to superconductivity may be narrated. The writing should be aiming primarily at professional members of the superconductivity community and related science & engineering communities. It may be also of interest to economic and political decision-makers, who seek authentic unfiltered information from regions.
2. The length limit isn’t absolute, but the preferred length of contributions is about 3-6 pages A4 using an SNF template - WORD template or LaTex template. The total length of history contributions, including figures and tables, should not exceed 30 pages, not counting the reference list at the end. Submitted manuscripts or annotated conference slide presentations are subjected to editorial review only (unless the responsible Co-editor assigns a reviewer).

Science and Technology News (ST)

1. Science and technology technical contributions should present author's original work and may draw on author’s recent peer-reviewed publications, on those accepted while not yet published, and can also announce results not yet submitted for publication, e.g., released at a news conference, professional workshop, etc..
2. The length limit isn’t absolute, but the preferred length is about 3 to 6 pages A4 whether using an SNF template - WORD template or LaTex template or a conference layout, inclusive abstract figures and tables, not counting the reference list at the end. All manuscripts are reviewed or (in the case of meeting preprints) subjected to peer evaluation and editorial selection. Annotated conference slide presentations are also acceptable, especially of invited talks, but subjected to editorial review and selection.

Science and Technology Paper Highlights (STH)

1. Highlights on original papers (précis) recently published in a peer-reviewed journal and deemed important by the author(s) and by the topical Co-editor. Highlighted may be more than one author’s publication on the topic. Also highlighted may be important new results, not yet published.

2. Paper highlights aren’t restricted by Copyright and generally welcomed by peer-reviewed journals, provided the highlighted publication(s) is/are fully cited with (preferably) the journal’s abstract linked.
3. The length is limited to two pages (no abstract) using the mandatory SNF highlight template - WORD template or LaTex template with maximum two figures or tables, not counting the reference list at the end. Such highlights are subjected to editorial review and selection.