Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme® (PACS)
PACS is the Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme®.
PACS numbers, developed by the American Institute of Physics,
have been used in Physical Review since 1975 to identify
fields and sub-fields of physics. (PACS codes from the Acoustics
Appendix are not included in some of the formats listed below.) The next revision of PACS is expected to be PACS 2006, scheduled to be released in late 2005.
The 2003 PACS scheme is provided in various formats:
General Information
The Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme® is designed
to assist in the retrieval of information, such as research
articles published in archival journals, that has been assembled
into various kinds of indexes. These indexes can be, for example:
the subject indexes published with each annual or semiannual
volume of a journal; cumulative indexes, covering several
years of a single journal; compiled subject indexes for many
journals taken together; and so forth. Cumulation, either
in time over several years or across disciplines published
in different journals, is made possible by the use of a common
scheme. Many subject indexes are arranged alphabetically.
This Classification Scheme, on the other hand, is arranged
hierarchically, by subdivision of the whole spectrum of subject
matter in physics- and astronomy-related sciences into segments
and then repeating the process of subdivision down to four
levels. The advantages of a hierarchical scheme over the alphabetical
arrangement include: like subjects can be found grouped closely
together; and browsing up or down near any entry will reveal
closely-related entries.
If you are new to the PACS scheme, or would like further
information, it is available here
at AIP.
If you have comments about the PACS scheme, or want to suggest
changes or point out errors, please use the
feedback form.
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