How to make a good-looking scientific review

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JD_PM
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Hi PhysicsForums community!

I am writing a short review on Optical Tweezers. I started with word but got tired of copy-pasting pics of equations using MathJax and ,besides, diagrams look pretty bad.

What do you recommend for making up diagrams and writing equations?

I have been thinking of Latex.

I really like how diagrams look on both Griffiths' books on Introduction to Electrodynamics 4th Edition and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3rd Edition.

Any idea on what programmes do they use to make those?

Thanks! :)
 
This is very vague.

First of all, how complicated are these equations? I’ve written some very complex equation in Word using MathType.

Secondly, how complicated are the diagrams? PowerPoint can handle quite a range of things that needed to be drawn. I’ve used it quite a bit in publications, and my lecture presentations.

There is no point is suggesting something as complex as AutoCad if all you want to do is something rudimentary.

Zz.
 
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ZapperZ said:
First of all, how complicated are these equations? I’ve written some very complex equation in Word using MathType.

Really simple ones.

My entire explanation is based on Newton's second Law for momentum:

$$\vec F = \frac{d \vec p}{dt}$$

And basic High School and first Physics College Optics (Jewett and Serway-Tipler).

ZapperZ said:
Secondly, how complicated are the diagrams? PowerPoint can handle quite a range of things that needed to be drawn. I’ve used it quite a bit in publications, and my lecture presentations.

I am interested in learning how to make up these kind of diagrams:

Chalk-style diagram on a blackboard: four parallel yellow rays enter from above and pass through a white lens shape, converging to a focal point, with a cyan arrow pointing left along the axis and a small white arrow below.


White line drawing on a dark chalkboard-style background of a light source directing parallel rays onto a flat mirror surface, with reflected rays fanning out upward and to the right.


These are coming from: