Section A of Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research publishes papers on design, manufacturing and performance of scientific instruments with an emphasis on large scale facilities. This includes the development of particle accelerators, ion sources, beam transport systems and target arrangements as well as the use of secondary phenomena such as synchrotron radiation and free electron lasers. It also includes all types of instrumentation for the detection and spectrometry of radiations from high energy processes and nuclear decays, as well as instrumentation for experiments at nuclear reactors. Specialized electronics for nuclear and other types of spectrometry as well as computerization of measurements and control systems in this area also find their place in the A section. Theoretical as well as experimental papers are accepted.

核儀器和物理研究方法A部分發表關于科學儀器的設計、制造和性能的論文，重點放在大型設施上。這包括發展粒子加速器、離子源、光束傳輸系統和目標排列，以及利用同步輻射和自由電子激光器等次級現象。它還包括用于探測和光譜分析來自高能過程和核衰變的輻射的各種儀器，以及用于核反應堆實驗的儀器。核和其他類型光譜的專門電子學以及這一領域測量和控制系統的計算機化也在A節中占有一席之地。理論和實驗論文均被接受。