Journal profile · Spectroscopy
JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER
ISSN 0022-4073 · eISSN 1879-1352 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Semimonthly · Founded 1961
JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER: CAS Zone 3 · Physics & Astronomy (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2; hybrid open access; APC about USD 2,870; review about 91 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: about 75%; 314 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 3 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, Atmospheric Ozone and Climate and Atomic and Molecular Physics, together about 34.9% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Papers with the following subject areas are suitable for publication in the Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer:Spectra of atoms, molecules: theoretical and experimental aspects;Spectral lineshape studies including models and computational algorithms;Spectroscopy of the terrestrial, planetary, and other atmospheres;Electromagnetic scattering by particles and surfaces: theoretical and experimental aspects;Electromagnetic energy transfer at nano-scale systems with near-field and coherent effects;Applications of electromagnetic scattering in particle characterization;Applications of electromagnetic scattering in biological and biomedical systems;Applications of electromagnetic scattering in remote sensing and astrophysics;Radiative transfer in absorbing, emitting, and scattering media;Near-field radiative heat transfer;Radiative transfer in stochastic media;Radiative transfer in high-temperature environments, combustion systems, and fires;Applications of radiative transfer in environment, oceans and atmospheres;Applications of radiative transfer and electromagnetic scattering in metamaterials and material processing.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Spectroscopy
Editor-in-chief Peter BernathPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 10 in mainland China (about 19%); most named United States 21, Mainland China 10, France 8, United Kingdom 2, Canada 2 (52 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Spectroscopy and Laser ApplicationsChemistry13.9%
- Atmospheric Ozone and ClimateEarth and Planetary Sciences13.3%
- Atomic and Molecular PhysicsPhysics and Astronomy7.6%
- Atmospheric aerosols and cloudsEnvironmental Science7.3%
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas DynamicsEnvironmental Science6.3%
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasmaEngineering6.3%
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosolsEarth and Planetary Sciences5.9%
- Advanced Chemical Physics StudiesPhysics and Astronomy5.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Physics & Astronomy Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Physics & Astronomy Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Optics | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Physics & Astronomy Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Physics & Astronomy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Spectroscopy | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Optics | 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
- 2LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.6LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 5.6Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.78LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.29LetPub ·
- h-index
- 94LetPub ·
- h-index
- 173OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 6,795OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.56OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 25%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 27.26%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 300LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 13,825 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 237 | 98 | 163 |
| 2025 | 314 | 151 | 652 |
| 2024 | 321 | 170 | 1,413 |
| 2023 | 268 | 120 | 1,540 |
| 2022 | 291 | 127 | 2,478 |
| 2021 | 436 | 176 | 6,874 |
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
91 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3.3 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 3.3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 75%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 34 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 91 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 3 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 2,870 / EUR 2,680 / GBP 2,300 / JPY 355,970 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,240 | — | — |
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)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Required
Article types accepted4
- book reviewReview Articles, Full Length Articles, Short Communications, and Book Reviews. Errata and corrigenda should not be submitted via Editorial Manager but should be…Length not stated
- editorialReview Articles, Full Length Articles, Short Communications, and Book Reviews. Errata and corrigenda should not be submitted via Editorial Manager but should be…Length not stated
- review articleReview Articles, Full Length Articles, Short Communications, and Book Reviews. Errata and corrigenda should not be submitted via Editorial Manager but should be…Length not stated
- short communicationReview Articles, Full Length Articles, Short Communications, and Book Reviews. Errata and corrigenda should not be submitted via Editorial Manager but should be…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 two reviewers 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.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed, not prior publication Model summary
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
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Semimonthly
- Founded
- 1961
- ISSN
- 0022-4073
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-1352
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER
What CAS zone is JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER is in Zone 3 of Physics & Astronomy, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Spectroscopy / Optics. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Physics & Astronomy. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2; CiteScore 5.6, h-index 173.
How long does peer review take at JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER?
The publisher reports about 91 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3.3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 75%”. 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 QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Required. 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 QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER based?
Of the 52 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 10 (about 19%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (21), Mainland China (10) and France (8). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER open access, and what is the APC?
JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 2,870.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .