The rapid increase in the level of activit,y in physics in t'he past decade has led to correspondingly rapid development,s in many fields, toget'her with an almost explosive increase in publication. A natural consequence is that no single journal in physics can possibly satisfy the needs of all readers, which range from general interest to those of the specialist.
The =i-nnals of Physics is intended to provide a medium for original work of broad significance, in which the author will be able to give attention t'o clarity and intelligibility, so that' his paper may he read by t,he widest possible audience. Opportunities for present,ations of t,his kind are rat'her limited today. Compression and a generally uIlintelligihle, telegraphic style are more often ~IICOUIItered, which t.end to encourage specialization and discourage those who have interest in many fields of physks and who like t.o think of physics as a unified, nearly monolit,hic, structure of high est,hebic appeal.
It is, of course, impossible t,o require that papers in the Annals of Physics be readily underst~andable by all. Howe-cr, a reasonable crit'erion might' he that sufficient det'ail and bacBkground should be given so t,hat a reader who has worked in the field within the last few years will he able to follow t,he argument's and understand their significsance without undue hardship. We ask for your support and part.icularly invit'e those, who feel that their research is of suficient' general interest :and importance that it should bc described in some detail, to send art'icles to us.
We are glad to be able to present t,he group of papers appearing in this first issue. It is natural, of course, that not all of them are represent)ative of the style we hope eventually to attain in the Annals. We also feel t,hat t.he present preponderance of theoretical papers is but one of the inevit,able transienbs which owur when a system is set into motion. With the support and encouragement of our colleagues in research physics, me believe the transient will rapidly be damped.