Condensed Matter : Top Papers 2006 Showcase

Research journals are only worth reading if the quality of the science in them is good enough. Top Papers 2006 is our annual attempt to give an impression of the diversity, range and scientific quality of papers in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (JPCM). Choosing these examples is one of the hardest but most pleasurable tasks for the Editors, Board Members and Publishing staff. The choice is difficult because JPCM has succeeded in attracting many excellent and innovative authors. Our very fair but rigorous referees have also ensured a consistently high standard of papers in the journal. Many more papers were singled out with the support of referees (identifying work of the very highest importance), of readers (through high numbers of full-text downloads) and of our Board members (through recommending articles they found especially valuable) than could be featured here. The final choice by us as Editors in Chief can only give an indication of papers that seemed to us to be exciting and of especial interest. These papers give a flavour of the exciting work published in JPCM, showing just how vigorous and lively the condensed matter field is at present. They also reflect the highly international nature of our authorship. Perhaps your paper will be one chosen for Top Papers 2007.