Note from the new Editor
Superlattices and Microstructures, a journal devoted to the science and technology of synthetic microstructures, microdevices, surfaces and interfaces, was launched in 1985 under the able leadership of John D. Dow, who guided it successfully through the difficult initial phase. Today in 1997 as we enter the second phase, the need for a journal of this type remains stronger than ever. The last decade has seen rapid developments in the fabrication, characterization and conceptual understanding of synthetic microstructures. Physicists, materials scientists and electrical engineers have continued to build smaller and smaller structures using sophisticated epitaxial and lithographic processes, while chemists and chemical engineers have proceeded to build larger and larger molecules using advanced synthetic techniques. Researchers from these very different backgrounds have converged on a common field involving the study of artificial structures with dimensions in the range of 1-100 nm. Such structures are now being fabricated and studied in many different material systems including silicon, III-V and II-VI semiconductors, metals, ceramics and organics. It will be our objective to provide a common interdisciplinary platform for the publication of the latest research results on all such 'nanostructures', the unifying theme being the dimensions of these artificial structures rather than the material system. We also plan to publish focused sections or special issues on important topics of current interest based on the feedback that we receive from our readers.
We welcome contributions to this exciting field of research from all our readers. We recognize that this is a fast-moving field where rapid publication is an important concern. As such we will make every effort to get papers reviewed within 4 weeks of receipt, and published within 12 weeks of acceptance (this includes 4 weeks for sending and receiving proofs). Instructions for authors can be found on our homepage at the address listed on the back cover. The titles and abstracts of papers published in this journal are available to everyone on the internet, while the full text is available under site licencing agreements.