Top Cited Articles of All Time (2004 edition)

The 40 most highly cited papers of All Time (2004 edition)

Keep in mind that citation counts can never be exact, there is something like a 5% error in most of these numbers. Please do not fret about number 32 versus 33, as this is often not a statistically significant difference. More information about citations in INSPIRE can be found here.

Also note that the counts shown, and used in the rankings, are the counts as of 2018-12-30. Further, the counts shown by the ranking are only the cites satisfying the criteria for that list. Actual citation numbers in the database may change as corrections are made and papers are added, the links will take you to the updated numbers.

Annual and All-time 2004 editions

25166 core citations up to the end of 2004PDG RPP has been unified. The most recent is shown.
Review of Particle Physics
Particle Data Group (M. Tanabashi (Nagoya U. & KMI, Nagoya) et al.). 2018. 1898 pp.
Published in Phys.Rev. D98 (2018) no.3, 030001
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.98.030001
  1. 6539 core citations up to the end of 2004
    A Model of Leptons
    Steven Weinberg (MIT, LNS). Nov 1967. 3 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 19 (1967) 1264-1266
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.19.1264
  2. 4819 core citations up to the end of 2004
    CP Violation in the Renormalizable Theory of Weak Interaction
    Makoto Kobayashi, Toshihide Maskawa (Kyoto U.). Feb 1973. 6 pp.
    Published in Prog.Theor.Phys. 49 (1973) 652-657
    KUNS-242
    DOI: 10.1143/PTP.49.652
  3. 3606 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Partial Symmetries of Weak Interactions
    S.L. Glashow (Copenhagen U.). 1961. 10 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. 22 (1961) 579-588
    DOI: 10.1016/0029-5582(61)90469-2
  4. 3519 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Weak Interactions with Lepton-Hadron Symmetry
    S.L. Glashow, J. Iliopoulos, L. Maiani (Harvard U.). 1970. 8 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D2 (1970) 1285-1292
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.2.1285
    Conference: C84-05-26
  5. 3490 core citations up to the end of 2004
    The Large N limit of superconformal field theories and supergravity
    Juan Martin Maldacena (Harvard U.). Nov 1997. 21 pp.
    Published in Int.J.Theor.Phys. 38 (1999) 1113-1133, Adv.Theor.Math.Phys. 2 (1998) 231-252
    HUTP-97-A097, HUTP-98-A097
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1026654312961, 10.4310/ATMP.1998.v2.n2.a1
    e-Print: hep-th/9711200 | PDF
  6. 3371 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Asymptotic Freedom in Parton Language
    Guido Altarelli (Ecole Normale Superieure), G. Parisi (IHES, Bures-sur-Yvette). Mar 1977. 21 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B126 (1977) 298-318
    LPTENS-77-6
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(77)90384-4
  7. 3078 core citations up to the end of 2004
    QCD and Resonance Physics. Theoretical Foundations
    Mikhail A. Shifman, A.I. Vainshtein, Valentin I. Zakharov (Moscow, ITEP). 1978. 63 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B147 (1979) 385-447
    ITEP-73-1978, ITEP-80-1978
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(79)90022-1
  8. 3047 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Supersymmetry, Supergravity and Particle Physics
    Hans Peter Nilles (Geneva U. & CERN). Dec 1983. 399 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rept. 110 (1984) 1-162
    UGVA-DPT-1983-12-412
    DOI: 10.1016/0370-1573(84)90008-5
  9. 2994 core citations up to the end of 2004
    The Search for Supersymmetry: Probing Physics Beyond the Standard Model
    Howard E. Haber (UC, Santa Cruz & SLAC), Gordon L. Kane (Michigan U.). Jan 1984. 376 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rept. 117 (1985) 75-263
    UM-HE-TH-83-17, SCIPP-85-47
    DOI: 10.1016/0370-1573(85)90051-1
  10. 2942 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Confinement of Quarks
    Kenneth G. Wilson (Cornell U., LNS). Feb 1974. 47 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D10 (1974) 2445-2459
    CLNS-262
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.10.2445
    Conference: C81-06-01, p.45-59 Proceedings Contributions
  11. 2838 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Unity of All Elementary Particle Forces
    H. Georgi, S.L. Glashow (Harvard U.). Feb 1974. 4 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 32 (1974) 438-441
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.32.438
  12. 2811 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Dynamical Model of Elementary Particles Based on an Analogy with Superconductivity. 1.
    Yoichiro Nambu, G. Jona-Lasinio (Chicago U., EFI). 1961. 14 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. 122 (1961) 345-358
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRev.122.345
  13. 2691 core citations up to the end of 2004
    High-energy physics event generation with PYTHIA 5.7 and JETSET 7.4
    Torbjorn Sjostrand (CERN). Dec 1993. 16 pp.
    Published in Comput.Phys.Commun. 82 (1994) 74-90
    CERN-TH-7111-93
    DOI: 10.1016/0010-4655(94)90132-5
  14. 2665 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Neutrino Oscillations in Matter
    L. Wolfenstein (Carnegie Mellon U.). Nov 1977. 19 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D17 (1978) 2369-2374
    COO-3066-102
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.17.2369
  15. 2651 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Computation of the Quantum Effects Due to a Four-Dimensional Pseudoparticle
    Gerard 't Hooft (Harvard U.). Jun 1976. 59 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D14 (1976) 3432-3450, Erratum: Phys.Rev. D18 (1978) 2199
    PRINT-76-0551 (HARVARD)
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.14.3432, 10.1103/PhysRevD.18.2199.3
  16. 2589 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Lepton Number as the Fourth Color
    Jogesh C. Pati (Maryland U.), Abdus Salam (ICTP, Trieste & Imperial Coll., London). Jan 1974. 35 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D10 (1974) 275-289, Erratum: Phys.Rev. D11 (1975) 703-703
    IC-74-7
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.10.275, 10.1103/PhysRevD.11.703.2
  17. 2513 core citations up to the end of 2004
    The Hierarchy problem and new dimensions at a millimeter
    Nima Arkani-Hamed (SLAC), Savas Dimopoulos (Stanford U., Phys. Dept.), G.R. Dvali (ICTP, Trieste). Mar 1998. 16 pp.
    Published in Phys.Lett. B429 (1998) 263-272
    SLAC-PUB-7769, SU-ITP-98-13
    DOI: 10.1016/S0370-2693(98)00466-3
    e-Print: hep-ph/9803315 | PDF
  18. 2495 core citations up to the end of 2004
    The Inflationary Universe: A Possible Solution to the Horizon and Flatness Problems
    Alan H. Guth (SLAC). Jul 1980. 32 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D23 (1981) 347-356, Adv.Ser.Astrophys.Cosmol. 3 (1987) 139-148
    SLAC-PUB-2576
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.23.347
  19. 2486 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Evidence for oscillation of atmospheric neutrinos
    Super-Kamiokande Collaboration (Y. Fukuda (Tokyo U., ICRR) et al.). Jul 1998. 9 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 81 (1998) 1562-1567
    BU-98-17, ICRR-REPORT-422-98-18, UCI-98-8, KEK-PREPRINT-98-95, LSU-HEPA-5-98, UMD-98-003, SBHEP-98-5, TKU-PAP-98-06, TIT-HPE-98-09
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.1562
    e-Print: hep-ex/9807003 | PDF
  20. 2436 core citations up to the end of 2004
    A Large mass hierarchy from a small extra dimension
    Lisa Randall (Princeton U. & MIT, LNS), Raman Sundrum (Boston U.). May 1999. 9 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 83 (1999) 3370-3373
    MIT-CTP-2860, PUPT-1860, BUHEP-99-9
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.3370
    e-Print: hep-ph/9905221 | PDF
  21. 2411 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Anti-de Sitter space and holography
    Edward Witten (Princeton, Inst. Advanced Study). Feb 1998. 39 pp.
    Published in Adv.Theor.Math.Phys. 2 (1998) 253-291
    IASSNS-HEP-98-15
    DOI: 10.4310/ATMP.1998.v2.n2.a2
    e-Print: hep-th/9802150 | PDF
  22. 2334 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Symmetry Breaking Through Bell-Jackiw Anomalies
    Gerard 't Hooft (Harvard U.). Mar 1976. 11 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 37 (1976) 8-11
    PRINT-76-0254 (HARVARD)
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.37.8
  23. 2334 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Axial vector vertex in spinor electrodynamics
    Stephen L. Adler (Princeton U.). 1969. 13 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. 177 (1969) 2426-2438
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRev.177.2426
  24. 2334 core citations up to the end of 2004
    A Planar Diagram Theory for Strong Interactions
    Gerard 't Hooft (CERN). Dec 1973. 13 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B72 (1974) 461
    CERN-TH-1786
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(74)90154-0
  25. 2329 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Radiative Corrections as the Origin of Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking
    Sidney R. Coleman, Erick J. Weinberg (Harvard U.). 1973. 23 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. D7 (1973) 1888-1910
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.7.1888
  26. 2300 core citations up to the end of 2004
    An Alternative to compactification
    Lisa Randall (Princeton U. & MIT, LNS), Raman Sundrum (Boston U.). Jun 1999. 10 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 83 (1999) 4690-4693
    MIT-CTP-2874, PUPT-1867, BUHEP-99-13
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.4690
    e-Print: hep-th/9906064 | PDF
  27. 2266 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Unitary Symmetry and Leptonic Decays
    Nicola Cabibbo (CERN). Jun 1963. 3 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 10 (1963) 531-533
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.10.531
    Conference: C84-05-26, p.648-649
  28. 2263 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Regularization and Renormalization of Gauge Fields
    Gerard 't Hooft, M.J.G. Veltman (Utrecht U.). 1972. 25 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B44 (1972) 189-213
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(72)90279-9
  29. 2260 core citations up to the end of 2004
    On gauge invariance and vacuum polarization
    Julian S. Schwinger (Harvard U.). 1951. 16 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev. 82 (1951) 664-679
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRev.82.664
  30. 2196 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Particle Creation by Black Holes
    S.W. Hawking (Cambridge U., DAMTP & Caltech). Aug 1975. 22 pp.
    Published in Commun.Math.Phys. 43 (1975) 199-220, Erratum: Commun.Math.Phys. 46 (1976) 206
    DOI: 10.1007/BF01608497, 10.1007/BF02345020
  31. 2169 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Gauge theory correlators from noncritical string theory
    S.S. Gubser, Igor R. Klebanov, Alexander M. Polyakov (Princeton U.). Feb 1998. 14 pp.
    Published in Phys.Lett. B428 (1998) 105-114
    PUPT-1767
    DOI: 10.1016/S0370-2693(98)00377-3
    e-Print: hep-th/9802109 | PDF
  32. 2146 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Reliable Perturbative Results for Strong Interactions?
    H.David Politzer (Harvard U.). 1973. 4 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 30 (1973) 1346-1349
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.30.1346
  33. 2123 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Ultraviolet Behavior of Nonabelian Gauge Theories
    David J. Gross, Frank Wilczek (Princeton U.). Jun 1973. 4 pp.
    Published in Phys.Rev.Lett. 30 (1973) 1343-1346
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.30.1343
  34. 2121 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Infinite Conformal Symmetry in Two-Dimensional Quantum Field Theory
    A.A. Belavin, Alexander M. Polyakov (Landau Inst.), A.B. Zamolodchikov (CERN & Landau Inst.). Feb 1984. 48 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B241 (1984) 333-380
    CERN-TH-3827
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(84)90052-X
  35. 1987 core citations up to the end of 2004
    QCD and Resonance Physics: Applications
    Mikhail A. Shifman, A.I. Vainshtein, Valentin I. Zakharov (Moscow, ITEP). 1978. 71 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B147 (1979) 448-518
    ITEP-94-1978, ITEP-81-1978
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(79)90023-3
  36. 1964 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Resonance Amplification of Oscillations in Matter and Spectroscopy of Solar Neutrinos
    S.P. Mikheyev, A.Yu. Smirnov (Moscow, INR). 1986. 8 pp.
    Published in Sov.J.Nucl.Phys. 42 (1985) 913-917, Yad.Fiz. 42 (1985) 1441-1448
  37. 1957 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Quantum Geometry of Bosonic Strings
    Alexander M. Polyakov (Landau Inst.). Jun 1981. 4 pp.
    Published in Phys.Lett. B103 (1981) 207-210, Phys.Lett. 103B (1981) 207-210
    Print-81-0351 (LANDAU INST)
    DOI: 10.1016/0370-2693(81)90743-7
  38. 1953 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Chiral Perturbation Theory: Expansions in the Mass of the Strange Quark
    J. Gasser (Bern U.), H. Leutwyler (CERN). Jan 1984. 52 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B250 (1985) 465-516
    CERN-TH-3798
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(85)90492-4
  39. 1938 core citations up to the end of 2004
    Vacuum Configurations for Superstrings
    P. Candelas (Texas U. & Santa Barbara, KITP), Gary T. Horowitz (UC, Santa Barbara), Andrew Strominger (Princeton, Inst. Advanced Study), Edward Witten (Princeton U.). Mar 1985. 29 pp.
    Published in Nucl.Phys. B258 (1985) 46-74
    NSF-ITP-84-170
    DOI: 10.1016/0550-3213(85)90602-9