Information Resources for Physics 138: Atomic Physics
Susan Koskinen, skoskine@library.berkeley.edu
Physics-Astronomy Librarian
Spring 2009
These are selected resources for physics – there are many more specialized and general texts.
Get organized:
STYLE MANUALS & WRITING GUIDES
1. The Chicago guide to communicating science / Scott L. Montgomery. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 2003.
Physics T10.5 .M65 2003
2. Enjoy writing your science thesis or dissertation! : a step by step guide to planning and writing
dissertations and theses for undergraduate and graduate science students / Daniel Holtom &
Elizabeth Fisher. London: Imperial College Press; Distributed by World Scientific Pub,; c1999.
Physics T11 .H582 1999
3. From research to manuscript: a guide to scientific writing / Michael Jay Katz. Dordrecht, The
Netherlands: Springer, c2006.
Physics T11 .K343 2006
4. How to write a successful science thesis: the concise guide for students / William E. Russey, Hans
F. Ebel and Claus Bliefert. Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2006.
5. How to write and publish a scientific paper / Robert A. Day and Barbara Gastel. Westport, Conn.:
Greenwood Press, 2006.
Physics T11 .D33 2006; Reference
6. Interacting with audiences: social influences on the production of scientific writing / Ann M.
Blakeslee. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2001.
Physics QC5.3 .B53 2001
7. Scientific writing: a reader and writer's guide / Jean-Luc Lebrun. Hackensack, NJ: World
Scientific, c2007.
Physics T11 .L37 2007; Reference
8. Survival guide for scientists: writing, presentation, email / Ad Lagendijk. Amsterdam: Amsterdam
University Press, c2008.
Physics T11 .L23 2008
Use basic sources:
DICTIONARIES / ENCYCLOPEDIAS – use for names, dates, spelling, history
9. AccessScience Includes the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, and the McGrawHill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms.
10. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online – general information + bibliographies.
11. Encyclopedia of Physics / Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2005. Physics: QC5 E545 2005 Reference
12. Encyclopedia of Materials Covers materials science including structural and functional materials,
phenomena, polymers and materials chemistry.
13. Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
14. Oxford Reference Online - Physical Sciences and Mathematics. Collection includes the Dictionary of
Physics and the Dictionary of Physicists.
15. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia Includes 300,000+ articles written by contributors around the
world. The site is a "wiki" which means that anyone can edit articles simply by clicking on the "edit
this page" link that appears at the top of each page.
BOOKS / EBOOKS + Textbook: Atomic Physics by Budker, et al.
Books provide in depth information about a topic.
Use the catalogs for books, ebooks, proceedings, primary source material, videos, journal titles, NOT
articles.
Library Catalogs
 Melvyl (all UC) [Melvyl Next Gen]
 Pathfinder (UCB) [Oskicat]
 Guide to Catalogs
Search terms: You can add traditional subject headings as keywords too; in catalogs, indexes, internet.
You will develop a specific vocabulary for your topic.
Stern, Otto
Gerlach, Walter or Walther (note spelling may be in original language)
Stern-Gerlach Experiment
Physics, Germany
Quantum theory
Quantum mechanics
Find articles
INDEXES / DATABASES – use these to locate articles.
Core Indexes:
 INSPEC & INSPEC Archive. 1898-1968, 1969 – Present. Includes Physics Abstracts. UCB only.
 Compendex UCB only. 1884--present.
 Web of Science (Science Citation Index) Good multidisciplinary database with coverage 1900.
Excellent resource for citation analysis.
Other indexes: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/PHYS/cal.html always note dates of coverage & subject
areas included.
JOURNALS
 Open Access – what is it? See - http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/PHYS/ejournal.html
 SCHOLARLY JOURNALS - peer reviewed, credible publisher, authors, editorial board.
Use Electronic Journals (remember there are still some in print)
 Physics and Astronomy Electronic Journals: use the title list for full text.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/PHYS/ejournal.html
 a to z list (all UC) enter search terms.
 UC-eLinks Single Citation Linker
REFERENCE RESOURCES: for atomic physics
1. Reference data on atomic physics and atomic processes by B M Smirnov . Berlin, London:
Springer, 2008. Available in print and electronic.
PHYS: QC776 .S56 2008
2. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
3. Landolt Börnstein : Numerical Data and Functional Relationships in Science and Technology
(QC61.L32 Reference area in Reading Room) Can be difficult to use but great source of data that
often cannot be found anywhere else. Landolt Börnstein Index
+ Electronic book collections:
4. KNOVEL: collection includes 2,000+ leading reference works and databases from publishers
and professional societies through a single interface. http://www.knovel.com/web/portal/home
5. PHYSICSnetBASE – collection of electronic books. Search keyword or topic; pull up chapters from
many books. Chttp://www.physicsnetbase.com/ The CRCnetBASE books are huge.
6. SciFinder Scholar-- Access to Chemical Abstracts 1907--. Includes physical property data and
spectra information for many compounds. SFS is available as either a client/server program or a webbased version. You must first register with the publisher, instructions are here. Already registered?
Use this direct link. For the client/server program, you must download and install a software program
on your own computer in order to access the database. Instructions are here.
Other tips:
Use UCB only resources from off campus – use the PROXY SERVER or VPN
Connecting to Library Resources from Off Campus or Home
Citing References
Behave ethically and avoid plagiarism by acknowledging the work of others.
Attribute all ideas, data and images taken from other sources and acknowledge
people/organizations that were of assistance.
Style Guides
Endnote includes many templates and bibliographics styles for specific journal titles.
Visit the Society or journal web site for the exact style needed.
For APS, use the American Physical Society for manuscript submission
http://authors.aps.org/ESUB/
Plagiarism: What is Plagiarism?
Defines plagiarism and discusses penalty for UCB students that plagiarize.
skoskine@library.berkeley.edu
Office: 361 LeConte, inside the library.
510-643-7662
PRIMARY SOURCE – This record is from Pathfinder (the same in Melvyl) for the personal papers
of Otto Stern. They are in the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley.
Author Stern, Otto, 1888Title Otto Stern papers, circa 1888-1969.
Description 5 cartons, 1 oversize box and 1 oversize folder (ca. 6 linear ft.)
Note Included in: History of Science and Technology Collection.
Note COLLECTION STORED IN PART OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for use. Note Includes
correspondence, notes, and manuscripts of German émigré physicist Otto Stern whose work encompassed
both theoretical and experimental physics in Germany and the United States. Photos and awards are
included. Correspondents include Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and other prominent physicists.
Note Otto Stern was born in Germany, on February 17, 1888. He received his Ph.D. from the University
of Breslau in 1912. In 1930 he was awarded an LL.D. by the University of California. In 1933 he moved
to the United States where he was appointed a Research Professor of Physics at the Carnegie Institute of
Technology, Pittsburgh where he remained until 1945. His work was in the field of theoretical
experimental physics, especially statistical thermodynamics and quantum theory, on which he has
published important papers. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1943 "for his contribution to
the development of the molecular ray method and his discovery of the magnetic moment of the proton."
He was also one of several Nobel winning physicists who helped construct the first atomic bomb. Stern
died in 1969.
Note Container list available in the library.
Language English
Subject Physics -- Research. Quantum theory.
Added Entry Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955. Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962.
Added Entry History of science and technology collection.
Format Archive/Manuscript Library UC Berkeley All