The current version is REVTeX 4.2 (version 4.2f), released on May 30, 2023.
Where do I download REVTeX 4.2?
The current release of REVTeX 4.2 may be download directly from this site as a zipfile: revtex4-2-tds.zip. In addition, it may be found on CTAN in the latex/contrib/revtex directory.
Where do I get a TeX installation?
Are REVTeX 4.0 and 4.1 still available?
REVTeX 4, REVTeX 4.1, and 4.2 can be installed side-by-side on the same computer without interfering with each other. 4.2 includes the files necessary for 4.1 as a convenience. The older distributions can be found in the obsolete tree on CTAN. New documents should be created using REVTeX 4.2, especially if you are planning on submitting to an APS journal.
I have a TeX installation. How do I install REVTeX 4.2?
Many up-to-date TeX installations will soon include REVTeX 4.2. Installation for TeX Live and MikTeX is fairly straightforward because both use the standard TeX Directory Structure (TDS) layout for their files. To install REVTeX 4.2, unzip the revtex4-2-tds.zip file. This zip file contains all of the files in the REVTeX 4.2 distribution in the standard “TeX Directory Structure” (TDS) layout. The files can be copied directly in the local tree of your TeX distribution (for TeX Live, this would be in the texmf-local directory).
For other TeX distributions, please consult that distribution's documentation.
Are there any templates to help with producing my paper?
REVTeX 4.2 comes with template files called apstemplate.tex for APS journals and aiptemplate.tex for AIP journals as well additional templates for AAPM and SOR journals. They are located in the doc/latex/revtex/sample directory.
How do I achieve a one-column, double-spaced, 12 pt document?
Using \documentclass[preprint,...]{revtex4-2} gives 12 pt., one-column, double-spaced look used for the review/production process.
How do I make my paper look like the journal?
Using \documentclass[reprint,...]{revtex4-2} gives the look and feel of the journal (whether the journal is set in one or two columns). You may use the twocolumn class option to force a two-column layout.
How do I format a one-page comment or erratum?
Just format it as a regular article. REVTeX doesn't support comments or errata directly. It will be formatted in the production stage of the processing of the manuscript.
How do I change the numbering of pages?
The standard LaTeX 2e method should work: \setcounter[page]{321}. Any standard LaTeX2e manual should be able to help you with this.
How do I remove all page numbers?
You should be able to use the standard LaTeX 2e \pagestyle{empty}. Please consult any LaTeX 2e manual.
Why is the compiler rejecting the \Bbb command and recommending the \mathbb command?
Be sure you are using the amssymb math package by specifing the amssymb class option:
\documentclass[...,amssymb,...]{revtex4-1}
How do I format long equations in a preprint format?
If you want them typeset with a certain set of line breaks, you should force the line breaks in your preprint style submission. Our journal typesetter is the final arbiter of how the math is set, so it may be changed in production. You may include a note in your cover letter indicating why you prefer to have the equations typeset with the line breaks. You will also be given the opportunity to comment on the formatting at the author proofs stage.
Why is there no top margin when I print?
The bounding box is cutting off the top of the page. Be sure that your dvips is configured to use letter size and not A4 size paper. If you are running Unix, try using the texconfig command to check and fix the default size.
Can I use REVTeX 4.2 to prepare a contribution to an AIP journal?
Yes, REVTeX 4.2 introduced full support for all AIP journals. Please consult Author's Guide to AIP Substyles for REVTeX 4.2. Questions regarding AIP journals should be sent to tex@aip.org.
How do I add line numbers to my document?
Use the linenumbers class option: \documentclass[...,linenumbers,...]{revtex4-1}. This will call in lineno.sty (and patch it to work with REVTeX 4.2).
Can I use REVTeX 4.2 to estimate the length of my submission?
Although using the reprint option in REVTeX 4.2 typesets the text area and font sizes appropriately for each journal, the formatting in REVTeX 4.2 is not exact enough for determining the final length of an article once it goes through journal production (which involves converting the article to XML). Different fonts and figure scalings are the largest sources of error. Use of Times-Roman fonts can partially mitigate the problem. Length estimates at APS are calculated as described in our Length Guide. For AIP length requirements, please consult their web site.
Why does \tag not work with hyperref?
This isn't really a REVTeX 4.2 bug. There is an incompatibility between AMSTeX's \tag command and hyperref. We don't know of a workaround.
How do I put multiple references in the same bibliography entry?
Combining multiple references into a single bibliography entry when using BibTeX was one of the most common problems authors run into. During the development of REVTeX 4.1, we worked with Patrick Daly to add enhancements to his natbib package to make this straightforward. To combine two references together, prepend an * to the argument of the \cite command. For instance, if you want the bibitems with keys feynman and bohr combined into a single entry, use \cite{feynman,*bohr}. The references will be separated by a semicolon in a single entry.
How can I add additional text to a bibliography entry?
Another feature of natbib and REVTeX 4.2 is to allow the prepending or appending of text to an entry in the bibliography. This is done via \cite{*[{prepended text}][{appended text}]key}. Note the use of the curly braces within the square bracket to avoid problems with the processing of the text. See the REVTeX 4.2 documentation for more information.
Where can I download the natbib.sty files?
The natbib.sty files are available at CTAN in the macros latex/contrib/natbib directory.
Is it necessary to have the same citation order in a .bib file?
The order in the BibTeX entries in the .bib file is irrelevant. Only the order of the \cite commands matters.
How can I make the titles of cited journal articles appear in the bibliography?
REVTeX 4.2 calls in a default BibTeX Style (.bst) file for each supported journal. The .bst files support displaying the titles of cited journal articles in the bibliography. To display the titles, simply use the "longbibliography" class option. Consult the REVTeX 4.2 documentation for more information.
How do I include an accent in an author's name?
Try surrounding the entire name in an additional set of braces. Or, try isolating the accented letter as {\"u}.
How do I keep footnotes in order of appearance within the text instead of having them appear at the end of the bibliography?
REVTeX 4.2 uses the footnote style appropriate for the chosen journal. You can override the journal default by using the 'footinbib' or 'nofootinbib' options (see the command summary documentation included with REVTeX 4.2).
I received warning messages about missing references when I ran LaTeX on my file.
While in the directory containing the TeX files, run the following:
BibTeX will have created a .bbl file. When submitting to APS or AIP journals, we ask that you include the final .bbl directly into the main .tex file.
How do I get a truncated reference, e.g., "Ann Author et al." when there are 5 or more authors?
The BibTeX style files distributed with REVTeX 4.1 and 4.2 no longer truncate the author lists of references (REVTeX 4's .bst files would truncate the list if there were more than 10 authors). APS editors prefer full author lists be used for references with 15 or less authors. For longer lists, use the phrase "and others" in place of the authors you want to omit.
I received a fatal error: Warning--I didn't find a database entry for "endnote 1" ... you've exceeded BibTeX's wizard-defined function space 3000.
The REVTeX 4.2 BibTeX style files are fairly demanding but most up-to-date TeX installations come with a big enough space for BibTeX. Your TeX distrubtion's BibTeX may have have a command line flag or configuration parameter to increase this space.
How do I include PostScript figures?
Assuming you are using REVTeX 4.2:
\usepackage{graphics} (or graphicx)
...
\begin{figure}
\caption{\label{foo} ....}
\includegraphics{foo.eps}
\end{figure}
Please see the "Documentation" section of the REVTeX 4 Home Page or any good book on LaTeX2e.
How do I generate a page that shows a list of figures with their captions?
Use the endfloats option and leave out the \includegraphics - this will list all of the figures at the end of the paper. APS no longer requires this so we don't support it particularly well. It is not needed for production or editorial purposes. It is better to have the figures in the text for the referees to see.
Can I place a caption in the second column next to a long, full-column-wide figure?
No, unfortunately the REVTeX 4.2 layout isn't that sophisticated.
When there are two figures on the same page, the second one doesn't seem to appear.
Please check your log file. You should be receiving error messages; i.e., could not place figure, or something similar. It should not just be ignoring the figure. You can try the floatfix option and see if that helps.
Is there a way to convert .jpg (.jpeg) files to .ps or .eps?
You can convert it to a similarly sized EPS file via a program called 'jpeg2ps.' The jpeg2ps program puts a simple PostScript Level II wrapper around the JPEG. The size shouldn't change at all. (You might try making sure that exporting Level II EPS.)
How do I get the LaTeX compiler to recognize the command \includegraphics?
You need to either use \usepackage{graphics} or \usepackage{graphicx}
Somewhere in your TeX distribution is a file called grfguide.ps or grfguide.dvi. You may want to read it to learn how to resize and reposition your graphics. Alternatively, search at CTAN for "grfguide" to locate a copy of the guide.
How can I get more help with REVTeX 4.2?
For additional assistance concerning REVTeX 4.2 or using it for APS journals, please contact revtex@aps.org. For issues related to AIP, AAPM, or SOR journals, please contact tex@aip.org.