SIMNRA icon

SIMNRA

Computer simulation of RBS, ERDA, NRA, MEIS and PIGE

by Matej Mayer

Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik

SIMNRA

Computer simulation of RBS, ERDA, NRA and MEIS

by Matej Mayer

CITATIONS

Citation frequency of ion beam analysis simulation programs

Number of citations of different ion beam analysis simulation programs in Elsevier journals.
Fig. 1: Number of citations of different ion beam analysis simulation programs from 1995 to 2017 in all Elsevier journals.

The citation frequency of ion beam analysis simulation programs is an indication for their frequency of use. 70-80% of all ion beam analysis related publications are published in a journal edited by Elsevier Science. Fig. 1 shows the number of papers in all Elsevier journals, which cite at least one ion beam analysis simulation program. The method to determine the number of citations is described here. Proceedings of IBA conferences appear in even years, resulting in peaks of the citation frequency every two years. The total number of yearly citations increased from about 70 in 1995 to maxima of more than 200 in the years 2006 and 2014. This shows the increased use of computer simulations in ion beam analysis, but also the general trend in all sciences to rising numbers of publications.

Percentage of citations of different ion beam analysis simulation programs in Elsevier journals.
Fig. 2: Percentage of citations of different ion beam analysis simulation programs from 1995 to 2017 in all Elsevier journals.

The percentage of citations of different ion beam analysis simulation programs in all Elsevier journals is shown in Fig. 2. Ion beam data analysis was dominated by the RUMP program in the mid-90's, when RUMP was used in more than 90% of all publications. SIMNRA and NDF were released in the late 90's, resulting in decreasing use of RUMP, constant use of RBX and GISA, and increasing use of SIMNRA and NDF. SIMNRA started to overtake RUMP in 2006 and was the most often cited program in the following years.

Method to determine the citation frequency

The use of different search terms may give somewhat different results.