PhySH

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PhySH, short for Physics Subject Headings, is a classification system created by the American Physical Society to cover all areas of physics, from accelerators to networks and physics education. It was introduced in January 2016 to replace the older PACS system used by the American Institute of Physics.

PACS started in the 1970s and was last updated in 2010; after that, AIP stopped updating it. APS began developing PhySH in 2012 and released it in 2016 to better match fast changes in physics and to be easier to use.

PhySH is word-based, using everyday English terms rather than numeric codes, making it more intuitive. It’s designed to grow as new concepts appear, so it can evolve with science.

PhySH is built on three ideas: Disciplines, Facets, and Concepts. There are 17 disciplines (for example Accelerators & Beams, Biological Physics, Networks, Statistical Physics) and five facets (Research Areas, Physical Systems, Properties, Techniques, and Professional topics). Each facet contains related concepts, and a search returns strings like Physical systems > 3-dimensional systems > Complex materials > Heterostructures > Van der Waals heterostructures.

The system is easy to extend and is meant to be a continuously developing standard. Authors submitting to APS journals are encouraged to add PhySH terms to help editors choose reviewers; some journals may require them. PhySH is expected to grow with physics through input from authors, reviewers, editors, and conference organizers.