First merged issue ofJournal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical PhysicswithJournal of Optics B: Quantum and Semiclassical Optics

With the first issue of 2006 Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (J. Phys. B) has successfully incorporated the former journal J. Opt. B. Under the well known and recognized name Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics the new merged journal will have a much wider scope, serving both the atomic, molecular and optical community and the quantum optics community. We have already taken a visible measure towards this direction in 2005 with the publication of a special issue on the occasion of Einstein's annus mirabilis 100 years before. This issue, edited by 2005 Nobel laureate Ted Hansch, Horst Schmidt-Bocking and Herbert Walther, provides a wide and deep survey of leading research in the fields J. Phys. B will promote in the years to come. You will also find the broadening in scope reflected in the scientific interests of the members of the new Editorial Board of J. Phys. B. J. Phys. B continues its dedication to innovative collision physics. At the same time it is ready to prominently disseminate with its wider scope the new and exciting research developments in connection with ultracold gases and new light sources which will deliver intense pulses of much shorter wave- and pulse length than available in the past, creating new research possibilities for atomic and molecular physics. As Editor-in-Chief I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the staff at the Institute of Physics, and especially of J. Phys. B, for all the work they have put into the journal over the last year with preparing the incorporation of J. Opt. B into J. Phys. B while continuing their much appreciated high quality service to readers and authors. In this spirit I wish all of you a good and scientifically exciting year 2006.