Molecular Physics

The richly illustrated book comprehensively explains the important principles of diatomic and polyatomic molecules and their spectra in two separate, distinct parts. The first part concentrates on the theoretical aspects of molecular physics, such as the vibration, rotation, electronic states, potential curves, and spectra of molecules. The different methods of approximation for the calculation of electronic wave functions and their energy are also covered. The introduction of basics terms used in group theory and their meaning in molecular physics enables an elegant description of polyatomic molecules and their symmetries. Molecular spectra and the dynamic processes involved in their excited states are given its own chapter. The theoretical part then concludes with a discussion of the field of Van der Waals molecules and clusters. The second part is devoted entirely to experimental techniques, such as laser, Fourier, NMR, and ESR spectroscopies, used in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and material science. Time–resolved measurements and the influence of chemical reactions by coherent controls are also treated. A list of general textbooks and specialized literature is provided for further reading. With specific examples, definitions, and notes integrated within the text to aid understanding, this is suitable for undergraduates and graduates in physics and chemistry with a knowledge of atomic physics and familiar with the basics of quantum mechanics.

1. Introduction 2. Electronic States of Molecules 3. Rotation, Vibration and Potential Curves of Diatomic Molecules 4. The Spectra of Diatomic Molecules 5. Molecule Symmetries and Group Theory 6. Rotation and Vibrations of Polyatomic Molecules 7. Electronic States of Polyatomic Molecules 8. The Spectra of Polyatomic Molecules 9. Collapse of the Born–Oppenheimer–Approximation, Perturbations in Molecular Spectra 10. Molecules in external Fields 11. Van–der–Waals–Molecules and Cluster 12 Infrared Spectroscopy of Molecules 13 Visible and UV Spectroscopy 14 Laser Spectroscopic Techniques 15 Time resolved Spectroscopy 16 Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules 17 Molecular Physics in Astronomy