Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Physics

Hello. I have an open edit request at Talk:Theta pinch#Proposed section: Spherical theta pinch (COI edit request) proposing a short section on the spherical theta pinch. I should declare that I'm a co-inventor of the device and an author of some of the cited papers, which is why I'm not editing the article directly. The proposal also cites independent work from the Institute of Modern Physics, CAS Lanzhou. If an editor with plasma physics background has time to review it for accuracy, weight and neutrality, I'd be grateful. I'm happy to revise it, or for it to be declined if it isn't appropriate. ~~~~ EulerMascheroni05772 (talk) 07:47, 14 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

Hello! I am a relative of the late physicist Dr. Archie Irvin Mahan (1909–1987). Because of my conflict of interest, I am looking for a neutral volunteer to review his credentials and create a biography for him, or help me review a draft.

He easily meets Wikipedia's academic notability criteria. Here is a brief summary of his career and the reliable independent sources verifying it:

• Role & Impact: He was a principal research physicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) specializing in physical and geometrical optics. In 1943, he published a widely noted analytical mathematical proof of Stokes' Reversibility Principle in the Journal of the Optical Society of America. His work also investigated the distinct diffraction and reflective properties of specialized optical elements, such as the unusual dual-imaging traits of un-silvered roof prisms.
• Society Leadership: He served as the national Treasurer of the Optical Society of America (OSA, now Optica) for nearly two decades (1961–1979) and was an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Optical Society of America.
• Awards & Legacy: He was elected an OSA Fellow (1961), received the Stephen D. Fantone Distinguished Service Award (1979), and the society established the annual Archie Mahan Prize in 1992 following a bequest from his estate.

Independent Verification Sources:

• Official Biography: Optica History Biography: optica.org
• Award & Prize Record: Optica Historical Awards (The Archie Mahan Prize): optica.org
• Historical Leadership: Philosophical Society of Washington Past Presidents (Served as President in 1953): pswscience.org
• Obituary: The Washington Post (January 30, 1987)

I have already drafted a complete encyclopedic text and formatted (to the best of my ability!) all the internal Wikipedia citation codes. If an active editor here has a few minutes to look at this, I would be incredibly grateful to hand the text and/or code over to you so it can be safely published.

Thank you so much for your time and help!

~~~~ KemStednitz (talk) 19:38, 14 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

Hi! By what you tell, he is notable by WP:NACADEMIC. Is the Washington Post obituary of him online? If yes, what's the current URL? Also, you can add a request at Wikipedia:Requested articles/Natural sciences/Physics#Physicists. Best wishes. ~2026-55295-22 (talk) 00:09, 15 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

Hi! thanks for your reply and well as the further suggestion. Here is a link to the Washington Post obituary (scroll down the page a bit): https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1987/02/03/bernice-smith-dies/94e72365-bffb-4a8c-b2cc-8f5ecbd9b0c6/ as well a link in Prabook: https://prabook.com/web/archie_irvin.mahan/1692419 Thanks and best wishes. KemStednitz (talk) 09:01, 15 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

Prabook is not a reliable source. SectionReflection (talk) 14:32, 20 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

It would be a good idea for you to firstly improve some Wikipedia articles on topics where you have no conflict of interest before requesting that. Doing so would greatly increase the chances of someone helping you with it. Good luck. BrennusRo (talk) 13:47, 17 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

Hi @KemStednitz. We have a mechanism for this type of review, our Articles for Creation process. See Wikipedia:Articles for creation for information, including where to put the article draft and what to do when you have a conflict of interest. Archie Irvin Mahan meets the criteria in Wikipedia:Notability (academics). Only one of the criteria needs to be met to have an article. He is an elected fellow (1960, not 1961) of the Optical Society of America and this source is the only one needed to show that he is notable, though everything in the article will have to have a source. You can then ask her for editors to look at it. Once you have submetted it for review it will also show up at Wikipedia:WikiProject Physics#Article alerts. StarryGrandma (talk) 23:30, 20 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

Hi @StarryGrandma Thank you for this information! I appreciate it very much and will submit it as an Article for creation for the editors to look over. All the best and thanks for replying. KemStednitz (talk) 12:47, 10 November 2026 (UTC)Reply

Please weigh in at Talk:History_of_the_metre#Duplication. It was discussed last year. fgnievinski (talk) 13:09, 21 October 2026 (UTC)Reply

In case you have some ideas for independent sources: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/CERN Courier Johnjbarton (talk) 03:23, 4 November 2026 (UTC)Reply

An editor has requested that Julius Smith be moved to Julius O. Smith III, which may be of interest to this WikiProject. You are invited to participate in the move discussion. Thanks! —1isall (talk | contribs) 13:22, 4 November 2026 (UTC)Reply
(Notification provided by Move+)