arXiv:1611.10357v1 [physics.soc-ph] 30 Nov 2016 “Space of physics journals”: in search of journals of quality Yurij L. Katchanov a,* , Yulia V. Markova b a National Research University Higher School of Economics 20 Myasnitskaya Ulitsa, Moscow 101000, Russia b American Association for the Advancement of Science 1200 New York Ave NW, 20005, Washington, DC, USA Abstract This paper analyses the problem of scientific quality of physics journals. The main assumption is that the quality of a physics journal exists only in reference to other journals. Instead of constructing new indicators of scientific quality, we identify a physical journal with corresponding empirical distribution function of citations. From our relational point of view, the space of physics journals is only a system of differences between empirical distribution functions of citations. Using data from Web of Science Core Collection we consider the space of physics journals and the space of scientific publishers. The first provides an objective basis for the grouping of physics journals on the basis of a whole range of indicators (citation statistics, country, publisher, etc.). The second reveals the “competitors’ triangle” of regional publishers, transnational publishers and professional physical societies. These findings have prompted us to advance the hypothesis that the structure of the space of physics journals is determined by a system of relations between publishers. Keywords: Citation analysis, Scientometric indicators, Scientific quality of a journal, Space of journals, Scientific publishers, 2010 MSC: 91D30, 91D99 1. Introduction In its present form, scientometrics cannot take the place of in-depth science of science Adler et al. (2009); Gl¨anzel & Moed (2013); Leydesdorff & Milojevi´ c (2015). Scientometrics does not offer a “clear window” into science, but rather something more akin to a stained-glass window, which allows one to gain some impressions of the world, but at the same time imposes its own patterns * Corresponding author Email addresses: yurij.katchanov@gmail.com (Yurij L. Katchanov), yulia.markova@gmail.com (Yulia V. Markova) Preprint submitted to Journal of Informetrics November 27, 2018