This book reflects the heights of knowledge of ultrafast chemical processes attained in these early years of the 21st century : the latest research in femtosecond and picosecond molecular processes in Chemistry and Biology, carried out around the world, is described here in more than 110 articles. The results were presented and discussed at the VIth International Conference on Femtochemistry, in Paris, France, from July 6 to July 10, 2003. The articles published here were reviewed by referees selected from specialists in the Femtochemistry community, guaranteeing a collective responsability for the quality of the research reported in the next 564 pages. Femtochemistry is an ever-growing field, where new research areas are constantly opening up, and one which both stimulates and accompanies the development of ultrafast technologies. The increasing interest in femtobiology and chemistry at the frontier with biology is an obvious indicator of the present impact of life sciences in our society. New materials and reactions at surfaces are also some of the relatively new topics that promise rapid developments. New methodologies and technologies for probing and following in real time molecular dynamical phenomena have appeared within the last ten years or so. These methods, based on multidimensional IR spectroscopies, ultrafast X-ray and electron diffraction techniques, are well represented in this book. Of ever-improving performance, they are now applied to the characterization of structural dynamics of an increasing number of chemical and biological systems.This book reports the state of research in Femtochemistry and Femtobiology presented at Paris, at the Maison de la Chimie, in July 2003, representing the tenth anniversary of the conference.* Overview of the most recent research on ultrafast events* Application of new methodologies on chemical and biological systems* Contributions by key players in the field

The unique behavior of the "liquid state", together with the richness of phenomena that are observed, render liquids particularly interesting for the scientific community. Note that the most important reactions in chemical and biological systems take place in solutions and liquid-like environments. Additionally, liquids are utilized for numerous industrial applications. It is for these reasons that the understanding of their properties at the molecular level is of foremost interest in many fields of science and engineering. What can be said with certainty is that both the experimental and theoretical studies of the liquid state have a long and rich history, so that one might suppose this to be essentially a solved problem. It should be emphasized, however, that although, for more than a century, the overall scientific effort has led to a considerable progress, our understanding of the properties of the liquid systems is still incomplete and there is still more to be explored. Basic reason for this is the "many body" character of the particle interactions in liquids and the lack of long-range order, which introduce in liquid state theory and existing simulation techniques a number of conceptual and technical problems that require specific approaches. Also, many of the elementary processes that take place in liquids, including molecular translational, rotational and vibrational motions (Trans. -Rot. -Vib. coupling), structural relaxation, energy dissipation and especially chemical changes in reactive systems occur at different and/or extremely short timescales.

Reviews the latest theory, techniques, and applications Surface vibrational spectroscopy techniques probe the structure and composition of interfaces at the molecular level. Their versatility, coupled with their non-destructive nature, enables in-situ measurements of operating devices and the monitoring of interface-controlled processes under reactive conditions. Vibrational Spectroscopy at Electrified Interfaces explores new and emerging applications of Raman, infrared, and non-linear optical spectroscopy for the study of charged interfaces. The book draws from hundreds of findings reported in the literature over the past decade. It features an internationally respected team of authors and editors, all experts in the field of vibrational spectroscopy at surfaces and interfaces. Content is divided into three parts: Part One, Nonlinear Vibrational Spectroscopy, explores properties of interfacial water, ions, and biomolecules at charged dielectric, metal oxide, and electronically conductive metal catalyst surfaces. In addition to offering plenty of practical examples, the chapters present the latest measurement and instrumental techniques. Part Two, Raman Spectroscopy, sets forth highly sensitive approaches for the detection of biomolecules at solid-liquid interfaces as well as the use of photon depolarization strategies to elucidate molecular orientation at surfaces. Part Three, IRRAS Spectroscopy (including PM-IRRAS), reports on wide-ranging systems from small fuel molecules at well-defined surfaces to macromolecular complexes that serve as the building blocks for functional interfaces in devices designed for chemical sensing and electric power generation. The Wiley Series on Electrocatalysis and Electrochemistry is dedicated to reviewing important advances in the field, exploring how these advances affect industry. The series defines what we currently know and can do with our knowledge of electrocatalysis and electrochemistry as well as forecasts where we can expect the field to be in the future.

Collision-or interaction-induced spectroscopy refers to radiative transitions, which are forbidden in free atoms or molecules, but which occur in clusters of interacting atoms or molecules. The most common phenomena are induced absorption, in the infrared region, and induced light scattering, which involves inelastic scattering of visible laser light. The particle interactions giving rise to the necessary induced dipole moments and polarizabilities are modelled at long range by multipole expansions; at short range, electron overlap and exchange mechanisms come into play. Information on atomic and molecular interactions and dynamics in dense media on a picosecond timescale may be drawn from the spectra. Collision-induced absorption in the infrared was discovered at the University of Toronto in 1949 by Crawford, Welsh and Locke who studied liquid O and N. Through the 1950s and 1960s, 2 2 experimental elucidation of the phenomenon, particularly in gases, continued and theoretical underpinnings were established. In the late 1960s, the related phenomenon of collision-induced light scattering was first observed in compressed inert gases. In 1978, an 'Enrico Fermi' Summer School was held at Varenna, Italy, under the directorship of J. Van Kranendonk. The lectures, there, reviewed activity from the previous two decades, during which the approach to the subject had not changed greatly. In 1983, a highly successful NATO Advanced Research Workshop was held at Bonas, France, under the directorship of G. Birnbaum. An important outcome of that meeting was the demonstration of the maturity and sophistication of current experimental and theoretical techniques.

Spectroscopy is the study of absorption and emission of electromagnetic radiation due to the interaction between matter and energy that energy depends on the specific wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. This field has proven invaluable research tool in a number of areas including chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and ecology. The spectroscopic field of research is growing day-by-day and scientists are exploring new areas in this field by introducing new techniques. The main purpose of this book is to highlight these new spectroscopic techniques like Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Low Energy Electron Loss Spectroscopy, Micro- to Macro-Raman Spectroscopy, Liquid-Immersion Raman Spectroscopy, High-Resolution Magic Angle Spinning (HR-MAS) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, Injection and Optical Spectroscopy, and Nano Spectroscopy. This book is divided into five sections including General Spectroscopy, Advanced Spectroscopy, Nano Spectroscopy, Organic Spectroscopy, and Physical Spectroscopy which cover topics from basic to advanced levels which will provide a good source of learning for teaching and research purposes.

Molecular Spectroscopy and Quantum Dynamics, an exciting new work edited by Professors Martin Quack and Roberto Marquardt, contains comprehensive information on the current state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical methods and techniques used to unravel ultra-fast phenomena in atoms, molecules and condensed matter, along with future perspectives on the field. - Contains new insights into the quantum dynamics and spectroscopy of electronic and nuclear motion - Presents the most recent developments in the detection and interpretation of ultra-fast phenomena - Includes a discussion of the importance of these phenomena for the understanding of chemical reaction dynamics and kinetics in relation to molecular spectra and structure

This book sheds light on the molecular aspects of liquids and liquid-based materials such as organic or inorganic liquids, ionic liquids, proteins, biomaterials, and soft materials including gels. The reader discovers how the molecular basics of such systems are connected with their properties, dynamics, and functions. Once the use and application of liquids and liquid-based materials are understood, the book becomes a source of the latest, detailed knowledge of their structures, dynamics, and functions emerging from molecularity. The systems discussed in the book have structural dimensions varying from nanometers to millimeters, thus the precise estimation of structures and dynamics from experimental, theoretical, and simulation methods is of crucial importance. Outlines of the practical knowledge needed in research and development are helpfully included in the book.

This unique book is the first treatment of nanotechnology as the science controlled by the behaviour of thermodynamic small systems. It provides comprehensive discussions on fullerenes as building blocks, Raman spectroscopy as a powerful diagnostic tool, and nanotechnology as the technology bridging the gap between human-made and biological materials systems. Aimed at graduate students, scientists, researchers, and educators interested in academia, government and industry, the text is divided into four chapters. The first covers the potential of nanotechnology to develop a better, deeper understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena observed in natural systems. It also contains a section introducing nanotechnology to the public in simple, non-scientific terms. The second chapter is devoted to Raman spectroscopy and could in itself serve as a basis for a short course on its applications in materials science. The third section covers fullerenes and presents their history and development as well as discussing the structure and production of zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, and two-dimensional fullerenes. The fourth and final chapter serves as a correlation discussion and over view. It emphasizes the unique nano-phenomena exhibited by the fullerene systems as carbon based nanostructured systems. This chapter, and therefore the book, concludes with a discussion on the potential of nano-science and technology to shape the future of human society.