This is a beautifully illustrated book, containing more than 200 figures, which introduces undergraduate students to theoretical and experimental issues of condensed matter spectroscopy. It is divided into five chapters. The first chapter covers molecular symmetry and the symmetry groups. This important chapter extends for more than 100 pages and describes how to understand molecules based on their inherent symmetry, and how to classify them for an unambiguous interpretation of their optical spectra. The second chapter deals with crystal field theory and analyses of the optical spectra of ionic crystals. Chapter three is dedicated to molecular orbitals and molecular bonding, while chapter four is focused on molecular vibrations and selection rules. Finally, chapter five is a brief review of optical spectroscopy techniques and basic instrumentation, such as monochromators and photodetectors.
This resource can help teach students how to understand optical spectra, which are nowadays provided automatically by complex equipment. It is a must-have for university library.
Review by Mircea Dragoman, National Research and Development Institute in Microtechnology, Bucharest, Romania
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