In the following pages is a brief description of some necessary commands. Those commands that are unique to REVTEX are so noted with (R). Please consult the LATEX User's Guide and Reference Manual if you have further questions regarding LATEX commands.
If commands require arguments, they are so noted with #1, #2, etc. The commands are in order of their probable occurrence in a file.
\documentstyle[#1]{aps} Will allow for proper formatting of paper; use [preprint,revtex] for #1 if preprint format is desired, and use [revtex] for #1 if galley format is desired. To number equations by section, use the eqsecnum option: [revtex,eqsecnum]. \tightenlines Preprint style outputs a double-spaced manuscript. When used in preprint style, this command reverts to single spacing to save paper. Has no effect in galley style. Use before \begin{document}. (R) \begin{document}, Necessary in the beginning and end of file. \end{document} \preprint{#1} When used as the first command of a document, places #1 at the top right corner of the first page in preprint style. Used for site-specific preprint numbers. (R) \draft Omission of this command will cause printing of PACS numbers to be stifled. (R) \begin{title}, Signals beginning or end of title. The title \end{title} should be broken with the \\ command. \author{#1} #1 represents a list of authors. Use \\ to force linebreaks. \begin{instit}, Signals beginning or end of an author's address \end{instit} (institution). The address should be broken with \\ if necessary. \receipt{#1} #1 represents the date of receipt at the Editorial Offices. This date will be inserted at the production site. (R) \begin{abstract}, Signals the beginning or end of the abstract. \end{abstract} \pacs{#1} #1 represents valid PACS numbers. This command should be used after the abstract, even if #1 is empty. (R) \narrowtext For galley format, will set all text that follows into a 3 3/8 in. column. Does not affect preprint output. (R) \mediumtext For galley format, will set figure captions and tables 5 1/2 in. wide. Does not affect preprint output. (R) \widetext For galley format, will set all text that follows into a 7 in. wide column. Does not affect preprint output. (R) \section{#1} #1 represents a primary heading. Fragile commands should be preceded by \protect. \subsection{#1} #1 represents a secondary heading. Fragile commands should be preceded by \protect. \subsubsection{#1} #1 represents a third-level heading. Fragile commands should be preceded by \protect. \cite{#1} Sets a reference or byline footnote citation. #1 represents a list of reference tags used with \bibitem. Lists of consecutive numbers will be collapsed; e.g., 1,2,3 will become 1-3. \case{#1}/{#2} Sets textstyle (smaller) fractions in displayed equations. #1 is the numerator, #2 is denominator. (R) \openone Produces an openface one. (R) \alt,\agt Produce "approximately less than" and "approximately greater than" signs, respectively, in math mode. (R) \FL Sets the displayed equation that follows flush left with the margin. (R) \FR Sets the displayed equation that follows flush right. (R) \[,\] Signals beginning or end of unnumbered displayed equation. \begin{eqnarray}, Signals beginning or end of multiline \end{eqnarray} displayed equation. \nonumber Suppresses the numbering of a single line in a multiline equation. \begin{quasitable}, Environment to produce tables in text. See \end{quasitable} Sample B in the REVTEX guide for an example. \label{#1} #1 represents the tag. This command appears in displayed equations that need cross-referencing, all tables, and all figure captions. Also used following section headings that need cross-referencing. \ref{#1} #1 represents the tag. This command appears in text wherever sections, equations, tables, or figures are cited. \nonum Stifles numbering of the immediately following section heading. \acknowledgments Sets a section heading for the acknowledgment section. \appendix{#1} Sets #1 as a lettered appendix heading. #1 can be empty. To be used when there are multiple appendixes. \protect should be used for fragile commands. Appendixes should not be started with \section{#1}. \unletteredappendix{#1} Same as \appendix, but produces no letter. To be used when there is only one appendix. \begin{references}, Signals beginning or end of reference section. \end{references} \bibitem[#1]{#2} Sets a reference in the reference section. #1 represents an optional, author-specified reference symbol. This is used for byline footnotes, which are not numbered in Physical Review. #2 represents the reference tag. \figure{#1\label{#2}} Sets the figure caption. #1 represents the text of the caption. #2 represents the figure caption tag. \newpage Signals start of new page. \begin{table}, Signals the beginning or end of a table. \end{table} \dec #1.#2 This command may be used for simple decimal-point alignments in tables. #1.#2 represents a number to be aligned by the decimal point. The decimal point and a space after #2 are mandatory. \dec uses constant-width boxes for #1 and #2. For best results you can set the widths with \setdec. See Sample A. (R) \setdec #1.#2 This command is used to set the amount of space reserved on each side of the decimal point by the \dec command. Use \setdec inside a table to set the size of \dec for the numbers used in that table only, or outside a table to set the size globally. \setdec 000.000 is the default. See Sample Compuscript A. (R) \squeezetable Used immediately after \begin{table}, shrinks tables that would not otherwise fit. (R) \caption{#1} Sets the table caption. #1 represents the text of the caption. \begin{tabular}{#1} Signals the beginning of the tabular material. #1 represents formatting commands for the columns. \tableline Sets a horizontal rule, separating column headings from data. (R) \end{tabular} Signals end of tabular material. \tablenotes{#1} Sets footnotes to the table. #1 represents text of footnote. These footnotes are not autonumbered: text of footnote must be preceded by a roman letter in a superscript to coincide with the citation in table. (R)
eqsecnum | This style option replaces the old
\math-with-secnums command. |
\tightenlines | This command has been added since
the preprint style now produces double-spaced output. This command,
placed before the \begin{document} , will give
single-spaced output in the preprint style. This may be more
convenient for the author while the paper is being written. |
\preprint{#1} | This command should be used just before the title. It will place its argument in the upper-right corner of the page. To be used for site-specific information (e.g., preprint numbers). |
title environment | You now need to break the lines of the title with
\\ . The title is not set in boldface. |
\{#1} | The author list will be broken
automatically if
it does not fit on one line. Breaks can be forced with
\\ . |
\moreauthors{#1} | This command is no longer needed. It has been set equal to \authors{#1}. |
instit environment | Line breaks must now be forced with
\\ . |
\onlinecite{#1} | This will produce a reference
citation with the number on line with the text. Can also be used as
\citenum{#1}. These commands and \cite all
collapse lists automatically. |
\overlay{#1}{#2} | To print two symbols on top of each other. |
\FR | This command will flush an equation or eqnarray to the right in galley mode. |
\eqnum{#1} | Now accepts any legal number as an argument,
including primes, etc. Can be used in eqnarrays and equations
and with \label and \ref . This is
transparent to the normal autonumbering. |
mathletters environment | This is an environment to ``number'' equations with letters; e.g., (1a),(1b),(1c). Works with equations and eqnarrays. |
\openone |
Produces an openface one ( 1-3.8pt-3.3ptnormalsize1). |
\alt,\agt |
Produce 1.5pt$@th;##$S∼PMlt;, 1.5pt$@th;##$S∼PMgt; in math mode. |
\begin{quasitable},
\end{quasitable} |
Environment to produce tables in text. See Sample B in the REVTEX guide for an example. |