[Math] The unpublished papers in reference to the published papers

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Sometimes it happens that a published paper refers to an unpublished paper for a result used.
In this case, if we want to check this result by ourselves, we need to access to this unpublished paper.

Question: What is the usual process for accessing to an unpublished paper?
Is it the duty of the author (citing it in his published paper) to send it to anyone requiring it?
Or is it the duty of the editor, or of the author of the unpublished paper?

What to do if we can not get it through these means?

Best Answer

  1. I think this is a duty of the author to refer only on those results which are available. (Perhaps not published, but posted somewhere on the Internet). I think it is a duty of the editor and referee to make sure that the authors follow this rule. A result which uses a reference which is not available cannot be considered as proved.

  2. In the case when there is an unpublished reference, which I need, I search on the internet, Google scholar, author's web page, etc. If not found I write to the author and ask her to send me a copy. In pre-computer era, I would write a letter to the author in the case I am really interested in the result.

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