The editor-in-chief is Marc Vrakking (Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy).

The journal covers research on atomic, molecular, and optical physics.

Topics include atomic and molecular structure, spectra and collisions, ultracold matter, quantum optics and non linear optics, quantum information, laser physics, intense laser fields, ultrafast and x-ray physics and atomic and molecular physics in plasmas.

The journal publishes research papers, fast track communications, topical reviews, tutorials, and invited articles.

It occasionally publishes special issues on developing research fields.