Journal profile · Spectroscopy
Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy
ISSN 0022-2852 · eISSN 1096-083X · Academic Press Inc. · UNITED STATES · Monthly · Founded 1957
Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy: CAS Zone 4 · Physics & Astronomy (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.19; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,310; review about 57 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy (Elsevier website: 51%); 42 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy is published by Academic Press Inc. and is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Spectroscopy and Laser Applications, Advanced Chemical Physics Studies and Molecular Spectroscopy and Structure, together about 53.7% of its articles. Its main subfields are Spectroscopy and Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy presents experimental and theoretical articles on all subjects relevant to molecular spectroscopy and its modern applications. An international medium for the publication of some of the most significant research in the field, the Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy is an invaluable resource for astrophysicists, chemists, physicists, engineers, and others involved in molecular spectroscopy research and practice.Feature Articles: It is planned to have several peer reviewed Feature articles in the Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy each year. These articles will overview areas of particular significance in molecular spectroscopy. They may review and consolidate an area of theoretical development or a collection of experimental data, in each case offering some new insights. The articles may also summarize the present status of a rapidly developing and/or evolving field. All the articles should serve as introductions to areas of spectroscopy other than one's specialty and should be particularly valuable to students entering the field.Feature articles will be solicited by invitation of the Editor . However, the Editor invites suggestions, with a reasonable level of detail, about topics that could be of interest. Self suggestions by potential authors are particularly encouraged.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Spectroscopy
Editor-in-chief Michael HeavenPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United States 12, France 5, Germany 4, United Kingdom 3, Mainland China 2 (34 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Spectroscopy and Laser ApplicationsChemistry18.9%
- Advanced Chemical Physics StudiesPhysics and Astronomy18.7%
- Molecular Spectroscopy and StructureChemistry16.1%
- Atmospheric Ozone and ClimateEarth and Planetary Sciences13.9%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance3.4%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering3%
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical StudiesPhysics and Astronomy2.9%
- Inorganic Fluorides and Related CompoundsChemistry2.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Physics & Astronomy Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Physics & Astronomy Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Physics & Astronomy Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.19LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.8LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 2.8Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.38LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.57LetPub ·
- h-index
- 61LetPub ·
- h-index
- 153OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 8,229OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.17OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 8.3%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 19.08%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 33LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 13,914 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 54 | 29 | 4 |
| 2025 | 42 | 15 | 32 |
| 2024 | 58 | 35 | 144 |
| 2023 | 82 | 51 | 297 |
| 2022 | 106 | 58 | 511 |
| 2021 | 113 | 50 | 772 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
57 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 51%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 25 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 57 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,310 / EUR 3,100 / GBP 2,650 / JPY 410,540 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,650 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare2 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Templates
- LaTeX
Article types accepted1
- feature articlesFeature Articles: It is planned to have several peer reviewed Feature articles in the Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy each year.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of one reviewer for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Rea…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Academic Press Inc.
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1957
- ISSN
- 0022-2852
- Electronic ISSN
- 1096-083X
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy
What CAS zone is Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical / Spectroscopy. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Physics & Astronomy. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.19; CiteScore 2.8, h-index 153.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy?
The publisher reports about 57 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy (Elsevier website: 51%)”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Templates: LaTeX. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy based?
Of the 34 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (12), France (5) and Germany (4). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,310.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .