Frontiers of Molecular Spectroscopy

Much of what we know about atoms, molecules, and the nature of matter has been obtained using spectroscopy over the last one hundred years or so. In this book we have collected together twenty chapters by eminent scientists from around the world to describe their work at the cutting edge of molecular spectroscopy. These chapters describe new methodology and applications, instrumental developments, and theory which is taking spectroscopy into new frontiers. The range of topics is broad. Lasers are utilized in much of the research, but their applications range from sub-femtosecond spectroscopy to the study of viruses and also to the investigation of art and archeological artifacts. Three chapters discuss work on biological systems and three others represent laser physics. The recent advances in cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS), surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS), and microwave techniques are all covered. Chapters on electronic excited states, molecular dynamics, symmetry applications, and neutron scattering are also included and demonstrate the wide utility of spectroscopic techniques.

* provides comprehensive coverage of present spectroscopic investigations
* features 20 chapters written by leading researchers in the field
* covers the important role of molecular spectroscopy in research concerned with chemistry, physics, and biology

Preface. 1. Old spectroscopists forget a lot but they do remember their lines (H. Kroto). 2. Frontiers of linear and non-linear Raman spectroscopy : From a molecule to a living cell (H-o. Hamaguchi). 3. Structure and dynamics of high Rydberg states studied by high-resolution spectroscopy and multichannel quantum defect theory (M. Schäfer, F. Merkt). 4. Vibrational potential energy surfaces in electronic excited states (J. Laane). 5. Raman spectroscopy in art and archeology: A new light on historical mysteries (H.G.M. Edwards). 6. Real-time vibrational spectroscopy and ultrafast structural relaxation (T. Kobayashi). 7. Using coherent Raman spectroscopy to detect bacterial spores via optimized pulse configuration (D. Pestov, A.V. Sokolov, M.O. Scully). 8. High resolution Terahertz spectroscopy and applications to astrophysics (S. Schlemmer, et al). 9. Selective protein and nuclear acid detection with biofunctionalized SERS labels (S. Schlücker, W. Kiefer). 10. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy - electromagnetic mechanism and biomedical applications (T. Itoh, A. Sujith, Y. Ozaki). 11. Spectroscopy and broken symmetry (P.R. Bunker, P. Jensen). 12. Broadband modulation of light by coherent molecular oscillations (A.M. Burzo, A.V. Sokolov). 13. Generalized two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (I. Noda). 14. Microwave spectroscopy: Experimental techniques (J-U. Grabow, W. Caminati). 15. Microwave spectroscopy: Molecular systems (W. Caminati and J-U. Grabow). 16. Raman spectroscopy of viruses and viral proteins (D.Nìmeèek, G.J. Thomas, Jr.). 17. Vibrational spectroscopy via inelastic neutron scattering (B.S. Hudson). 18. Optimal signal processing in cavity ring-down spectroscopy (K.Lehmann, H. Huang). 19. Spectroscopy and dynamics of neutrals and ions by high-resolution IR-VUV laser photoionization and photoelectron methods (C-Y. Ng).