K. L. Kompa - Böcker

This conference on both the physics and chemistry of laser-induced processes in molecules was organized by the Quantum Electronics Divisional Board of the European Physical Society whose membership is given on p.367. The confer- ence aim, to mix physicists and chemists interested in this exciting field both from Europe and further afield, was well fulfilled by the attendance of around 250 participants and the submission of about 100 papers, which dre presented here. Numerous people at both the Physics Department, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and at the Projektgruppe fUr Laserforschung, MPI, Garching, con- tributed hard work to the organization; in addition to Dr. Bob Harrison, who bore the biggest burden with conspicuous success, we particularly thank Hugh MacKenzie, Richard Dennis and last but not least Miss Joanne Askham and the secretaries in Edinburgh together with Frau Doris Maischberger and the secretaries in Garching. December 1978 K.L. Kompa S.D. Smith Conren~ Part I. Study of Lasers and Related Techniques Suitable for Applications in Chemistry and Spectroscopy Rare Gas Halogen Lasers and Photochemical Applications. By S.D. Rockwood...3Group VI Molecular Photolytic Dissociation Studies Using Rare Gas Halide Lasers. By M.C. Gower, A.J. Kearsley, and C.E. Webb ...8 Broadly Tunable UV Source Based on Stimulated Raman Scattering.

Lasers and chemical change is the study of radiation and molecules in dis­ equilibrium. The distinguishing feature of such systems is the extreme de­ parture from thermal equilibrium: the radiation is usually confined to a narrow frequency range, is well coll imated, and is far brighter than black body radiation; the chemical composition and also the distribution of mole­ cules over their different energy states are often markedly displaced from that expected at equilibrium. Such systems can be used as a source of laser radiation and, reversedly, lasers can rapidly and selectively displace mole­ cular systems from equilibrium. The subsequent evolution of the initially prepared state can then be monitored - again using lasers. One purpose of this book is to introduce the concepts required to d- cuss systems of radiation and molecules in disequilibrium. These include the physics of (laser) radiation and of radiation-matter interaction and molecular structure and spectroscopy. Excellent textbooks of these topics are available and our survey (in Chap. 3) is only intended to accent the es­ sential points, with special reference to atomic and molecular radiation physics. Considerably more attention is given to the topic of disequilibrium in chemical systems (Chap. 2). In particular we consider both inter- and intra­ molecular dynamics with special reference to energy requirements and energy disposal in chemical reactions and to what goes on in between - intramole­ cular energy migration.