Molecular Physics. Theoretical Principles and Experimental Methods

The richly illustrated, advanced textbook comprehensively explains the important principles of diatomic and polyatomic molecules and their spectra in two distinct parts. The first concentrates on the theoretical aspects of molecular physics, such as the vibration, rotation, electronic states, potential curves, and spectra of molecules, while also covering the different methods of approximation for the calculation of electronic wave functions and their energy. The introduction of basic terms used in group theory and their meaning in molecular physics enables an elegant description of polyatomic molecules and their symmetries. A whole chapter is devoted to molecular spectra and the dynamic processes involved in their excited states. The theoretical section 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, and a list of general textbooks and specialized literature is provided for further reading.
With its specific examples, definitions, and integrated notes to aid understanding, this textbook is suitable for undergraduates and graduates in physics and chemistry with a knowledge of atomic physics and who are familiar with the basics of quantum mechanics.