Withdrawal Policy

The Frontiers in Applied Physics and Mathematics journal, like other academic publications, likely has a withdrawal policy for authors who wish to retract their submissions either before or after acceptance. Here's a general outline of what such a policy might include:

  1. Pre-Acceptance Withdrawal:

    • Authors' Request: Authors are generally allowed to withdraw their manuscript before acceptance without significant consequences. They are typically required to submit a formal withdrawal request in writing, stating clear reasons for the decision.
    • Timeliness: Prompt communication is crucial. It's more straightforward to withdraw a manuscript before it has been sent for review or before reviews are completed.

  2. Post-Acceptance Withdrawal:

    • Serious Consequences: Withdrawing a manuscript after acceptance is usually more complex and may have consequences unless there are compelling reasons such as critical errors or ethical concerns.
    • Penalties: Some journals may impose penalties, especially if the withdrawal is requested after the article has been fully processed for publication. This could include covering the costs incurred during the publication process.

  3. Ethical Considerations:

    • Misconduct and Errors: If withdrawal is due to ethical breaches (e.g., plagiarism, falsification of data) or critical errors that invalidate the study's conclusions, the journal may treat this as a case of retraction rather than a simple withdrawal.
    • Notification of Co-Authors: It is usually necessary for all co-authors to agree to the withdrawal and to be notified of the reasons.

  4. Record Keeping:

    • Transparent Record: If a paper is withdrawn after it has been published online (as an "Online First" article, for example), journals typically leave a note indicating that the paper was withdrawn at the authors' request and might provide a reason if it's related to an error or ethical issue.

  5. Communication:

    • Official Correspondence: All correspondence related to withdrawal should be done officially through email or the manuscript submission system to ensure there is a record of the communication.