Gianfranco Pacchioni - Böcker

The way science is done has changed radically in recent years. Scientific research and institutions, which have long been characterized by passion, dedication and reliability, have increasingly less capacity for more ethical pursuits, and are pressed by hard market laws. From the vocation of a few, science has become the profession of many -- possibly too many. These trends come with consequences and risks, such as the rise in fraud, plagiarism, and in particular the sheer volume of scientific publications, often of little relevance. The solution? A slow approach with more emphasis on quality rather than quantity that will help us to rediscover the essential role of the responsible scientist.This work is a critical review and assessment of present-day policies and behavior in scientific production and publication. It touches on the tumultuous growth of scientific journals, in parallel with the growth of self-declared scientists over the world. The author's own reflections and experiences help us to understand the mechanisms of contemporary science. Along with personal reminiscences of times past, the author investigates the loopholes and hoaxes of pretend journals and nonexistent congresses, so common today in the scientific arena. The book also discusses the problems of bibliometric indices, which have resulted in large part from the above distortions of scientific life.

For several years, core level spectroscopies and other, c\osely related, electron spectroscopies have provided very useful information about the atomic composition, the geometric structure, and the electronic structure of condensed matter. Recently, these spectroscopies have also been used for the study of magnetic properties; such studies have a great potential to extend our knowledge and understanding of magnetic systems. This volume collects the lectures presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Core Level Spectroscopies for Magnetic Phenomena: Theory and Experiment" held at the Ettore Majorana Centre, Erice, Sicily, on 15 to 26 May 1994. The topics considered at the ASI covered a wide range of subjects involving the use of core-level and related spectroscopies to study magnetic phenomena. There are a large and growing number of applications of these spectroscopies to the study of magnetic materials; an important objective of the ASI was to stimulate further growth. The topics covered at the ASI can be placed into three general groups: 1) fundamental principles of core level spectroscopies; 2) basic aspects of magnetic phenomena; and, 3) the combination of the two previous topics embodied in applications of the spectroscopies to magnetism. In all three groups, theoretical interpretations as weH as experimental measurements were presented, often both of these aspects were covered in a single lecture or series oflectures. The theoretical treatments ofthe spectroscopies as weH as of the magnetic phenomena help to establish a framework for understanding many of the experimental measurements on magnetic materials.

Heterogeneous catalysis provides the backbone of the world's chemical and oil industries. The innate complexity of practical catalytic systems suggests that useful progress should be achievable by investigating key aspects of catalysis by experimental studies on idealised model systems. Thin films and supported clusters are two promising types of model system that can be used for this purpose, since they mimic important aspects of the properties of practical dispersed catalysts. Similarly, appropriate theoretical studies of chemisorption and surface reaction clusters or extended slab systems can provide valuable information on the factors that underlie bonding and catalytic activity. This volume describes such experimental and theoretical approaches to the surface chemistry and catalytic behaviour of metals, metal oxides and metal/metal oxide systems. An introduction to the principles and main themes of heterogeneous catalysis is followed by detailed accounts of the application of modern experimental and theoretical techniques to fundamental problems.The application of advanced experimental methods is complemented by a full description of theoretical procedures, including Hartree-Fock, density functional and similar techniques. The relative merits of the various approaches are considered and directions for future progress are indicated.

Silicon dioxide plays a central role in most contemporary electronic and photonic technologies, from fibre optics for communications and medical applications to metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. Many of these applications directly involve point defects, which can either be introduced during the manufacturing process or by exposure to ionizing radiation. They can also be deliberately created to exploit new technologies. This book provides a general description of the influence that point defects have on the global properties of the bulk material and their spectroscopic characterization through ESR and optical spectroscopy.

Silicon dioxide plays a central role in most contemporary electronic and photonic technologies, from fiber optics for communications and medical applications to metal-oxide-semiconductor devices. Many of these applications directly involve point defects, which can either be introduced during the manufacturing process or by exposure to ionizing radiation. They can also be deliberately created to exploit new technologies. This book provides a general description of the influence that point defects have on the global properties of the bulk material and their spectroscopic characterization through ESR and optical spectroscopy.

It is widely recognized that an understanding of the physical and chemical properties of clusters will give a great deal of important information relevant to surface and bulk properties of condensed matter. This relevance of clusters for condensed matter is one of the major motivations for the study of atomic and molecular clusters. The changes of properties with cluster size, from small clusters containing only a few atoms to large clusters containing tens of thousands of atoms, provides a unique way to understand and to control the development of bulk properties as separated units are brought together to form an extended system. Another important use of clusters is as theoretical models of surfaces and bulk materials. The electronic wavefunctions for these cluster models have special advantages for understanding, in particular, the local properties of condensed matter. The cluster wavefunctions, obtained with molecular orbital theory, make it possible to relate chemical concepts developed to describe chemical bonds in molecules to the very closely related chemical bonding at the surface and in the bulk of condensed matter. The applications of clusters to phenomena in condensed matter is a cross-disciplinary activity which requires the interaction and collaboration of researchers in traditionally separate areas. For example, it is necessary to bring together workers whose background and expertise is molecular chemistry with those whose background is solid state physics. It is also necessary to bring together experimentalists and theoreticians.

For several years, core level spectroscopies and other, c\osely related, electron spectroscopies have provided very useful information about the atomic composition, the geometric structure, and the electronic structure of condensed matter. Recently, these spectroscopies have also been used for the study of magnetic properties; such studies have a great potential to extend our knowledge and understanding of magnetic systems. This volume collects the lectures presented at the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Core Level Spectroscopies for Magnetic Phenomena: Theory and Experiment" held at the Ettore Majorana Centre, Erice, Sicily, on 15 to 26 May 1994. The topics considered at the ASI covered a wide range of subjects involving the use of core-level and related spectroscopies to study magnetic phenomena. There are a large and growing number of applications of these spectroscopies to the study of magnetic materials; an important objective of the ASI was to stimulate further growth. The topics covered at the ASI can be placed into three general groups: 1) fundamental principles of core level spectroscopies; 2) basic aspects of magnetic phenomena; and, 3) the combination of the two previous topics embodied in applications of the spectroscopies to magnetism. In all three groups, theoretical interpretations as weH as experimental measurements were presented, often both of these aspects were covered in a single lecture or series oflectures. The theoretical treatments ofthe spectroscopies as weH as of the magnetic phenomena help to establish a framework for understanding many of the experimental measurements on magnetic materials.

Microcrystals large enough to be seen in an electron microscope have long been objects of intense scientific and technological interest. Recently, it has become possible to study properties of even smaller units of matter, clusters, thus allowing the last gap betweeen molecules and crystals to be bridged. This book presents the experimental and theoretical techniques needed to study this new state of condensed matter. The material is presented so as to be understandable to an audience with varied backgrounds and interests. At the beginning of each part basic concepts are quickly reviewed for graduate students and for experts who wish to broaden their interest in theory and experiments. The concepts are then applied to current problems of general interest. The basic subjects covered by the book are cluster sources, the evolution of electronic properties of condensed matter, the microscopic view of crystal growth, the chemical reactivity of clusters, cluster stability and fragmentation.