Session C1: 50th Anniversary of Physical Review Letters

Physical Review Letters, DAMOP, and the Law of Unintended Consequences

When Sam Goudsmit made his vision for a letters journal a reality fifty years ago, his creation rapidly became the most influential journal in all of physics. With popularity, however, came problems, and these grew to the point where he turned to the American Physical Society to establish an \textit{ad hoc} committee to help him out. As a member of that committee, I can describe his problems, our solution, and its unintended consequences. I will also comment on the role of PRL in the development of AMO physics during the last half century.   

50 Years of PRL: Physical Review Letters or Prestige and Recognition in Letter-Format

Soon after PRL's beginning a published article in Physical Review Letters meant prestige and stature for the author(s). The journal's goal to publish short and readable physics articles of importance and broad interest quickly became synonymous for authors to wide recognition and fame. I will follow the rise of PRL from its early 20th century roots as ``Letters to the Editor'' to PRL's current 100th volume while giving an account of the authors' perspective on the most successful physics journal to date.