Books
Understanding Laser Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Laser Spectroscopy: Techniques and Applications E. Roland Menzel Marcel Dekker 270 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10158 1994,295 pp., $135
Since the advent of laser-based spectroscopy, the field has grown enormously. This book no doubt constitutes a great effort on the part of the author to review the parameters of laser-based spectroscopy and the applications of this technique in analysis. The field is covered in a straightforward manner, reviewing only the basic principles, operation, and results produced by a particular method. This book is Volume 18 in the "Practical Spectroscopy" series, and would make a useful reference for those who have knowledge of the principles of lasers and laser-based spectroscopy but want to broaden their knowledge by exposure to the many techniques and applications of laser-based spectroscopy. It would also be suitable for use as a textbook on laserbased spectroscopy, although it does not contain problems and is quite expensive for student purchasers. The level of presentation should be understandable by anyone with an undergraduate degree in the physical sciences. The first chapter reviews the basic principles of spectroscopy of molecules and atoms, Raman scattering, and the basic operation of lasers. Of notable interest here is a discussion of inter- and intramolecular 542 A
tions and the lack of in-depth analysis. On energy transfer. The second chapter exthe other hand, this book adequately amines some of the ways in which spectroscopy is performed and discusses the covers the extensivefieldof laser-based spectroscopy in an efficient manner and operation of some novel optical elements for laser-based spectroscopy, and is basi- cites many interesting case studies. cally a condensed version of what could Reviewed by Stephen Bialkowski, Utah be learned from any instrumental analysis State University textbook. Chapter 3 gives a good overview of the experimental methods used for absorption spectroscopy. Chapters 4 and 5 make up about a third of the book and discuss intensity and timeresolved luminescence spectroscopy. This area is covered well enough that the reader should get a good understanding of the many principles and methods. Several interesting applications are discussed,
Using IR Micro¬ spectroscopy
The book should be understandable to anyone with a degree in the physical sciences. although some of the more novel methods and applications are not mentioned. Chapter 7 is rather short but gives an adequate overview of Raman spectroscopy. The instrumentation discussion is somewhat out of date and does not mention some of the newer spectrometer designs based on holographic optical elements. In the next two chapters, several novel methods and applications are discussed. The specific applications chosen are very interesting, and the chapters are intellectually stimulating. The final chapter looks at emerging laser and spectroscopy technologies. All in all, this is an interesting book. Problems include the sometimes outdated and somewhat obscure literature cita-
Analytical Chemistry, September 1, 1995
Practical Guide to Infrared Microspectroscopy Howard J. Humecki, Ed. Marcel Dekker 270 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10158 1995, 472 pp., $150
Infrared microspectroscopy continues to enjoy rapid growth in many contexts. The only other books available on this technique are seven- to eight-year-old collections of papers given at special symposia. There is, therefore, a real need for a comprehensive book on the subject, written so as to be useful to the novice. In my opinion, this need remains unfulfilled. Books that consist of collections of chapters written by various authors often provide uneven coverage and treatment of various subjects. Although that is certainly true of this volume, there are added problems of repetitive coverage and an inadequate subject index. For instance, diffraction is discussed in some detail in at
leastfivechapters, but there is no entry for it in the index. (Other examples abound.) Another problem arises from uneven proofreading. Some chapters are well done, but others have a larger than usual number of misprints, grammatical errors, and so on. Further still, the literature re views are extremely uneven. Some chap ters have references to 1994 works; others have nothing since 1990. Finally, there are a few points on which authors are in disagreement and conflicting statements are made. All of these characteristics detract from the book's usefulness, especially for the novice. On the other hand, there is a great deal of useful information, some of which would be difficult, if not impossible, to find in other places. Many chapters contain a good deal of background information on particular kinds of samples and how other techniques, particularly optical mi croscopy, aid in characterizing these sam ples. The two most important aspects of ob taining good data from IR microspectroscopy are proper use of the instrument and proper sample preparation. Almost cer tainly even the novice will be knowledge able about the IR spectrometer, although the peculiarities of the microscope and its interface with the spectrometer may not be as familiar. Sample preparation, how ever, presents a significant challenge to the novice in most cases, and it is in this area that the book makes its greatest im pact. There is a wealth of information on sample preparation, much of which is not published or is scattered in a wide variety of publications, some of which are ob scure. Unfortunately, the information is also scattered throughout this book, and the minimal subject index makes it diffi cult to glean what is needed in a short time. The result is a book that will probably be of more use to the experienced IR microspectroscopist than to the novice. The experienced reader will not be so easily
misled by some of the errors and will be able to fill in some of the missing links. The most benefit will probably be gained by reading the book entirely and thus be coming acquainted with its contents. Us ing it as a reference to look for topics, without having previously read it and thus knowing where to look, may well lead to a great deal of frustration. Reviewed by J. E. Katon, Miami Univer sity (OH)
BOOKS RECEIVED X-Ray Spectrometry in Electron Beam Instruments David B. Williams, Joseph I. Goldstein, and Dale E. Newbury Plenum 233 Spring St. New York, NY 10013 1995, 372 pp., $79.50
This volume is derived from a symposium organized by the Microbeam Analysis Soci ety at Loyola Marymount University in 1993. Chapter topics include the develop ment of ED electron probe analysis, detec tor design, Si (Li) detector windows for light-element analysis, germanium X-ray detectors, modeling the ED X-ray detector, the effect of detector dead layers on lightelement detection, EDX in ultrahigh vac uum environments, resolution and count rate in EDX microanalysis, improving EDS performance with digital pulse process ing, systematic errors in multiple linear re gression peak fitting, artifacts in EDX, characterizing an ED spectrometer on an analytical electron microscope, WD spec trometry, synthetic multilayer crystals for ΕΡΜΑ of ultralight elements, a WD spec trometer for microbeam analysis, fitting WD spectra with the NIST/NIH/DTSA program, layered synthetic microstruc ture crystals for WDX microanalysis of ul tralight elements, and an evaluation of quantitative electron probe methods.
Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Jiri Dedina and Dimiter L. Tsalev John Wiley and Sons 605 Third Ave. New York, NY 10158 1995, 526 pp., $84.95
This is Volume 130 in the Chemical Analy sis series and contains information on both the fundamentals of hydride genera tion AAS and on methodology and ana lytical applications. Part I contains chap ters on theory, hydride generation, hydride atomization, interferences, and a general assessment of hydride generation and atomization methods. Part II con tains 10 chapters, each devoted to determi nation of a single element (antimony, ar senic, bismuth, germanium, indium, lead, selenium, tellurium, thallium, and tin) by hydride generation AAS. Appendices cover lineshapes, Doppler and Lorenz broadening, self-adsorption, hyperfine splitting, and atomic absorption coeffi cients. An extensive bibliography with its own subject index is provided.
Laser Experiments for Beginners Richard N. Zare, Bertrand H. Spencer, Dwight S. Springer, and Matthew P. Jacob¬ son University Science Books 55D Gate Five Road Sausalito, CA 94965 1995,232 pp., $26.50
This book is intended as a blueprint for sci ence teachers who want to use lasers in their classrooms. All experiments require only a low-cost, low-power laser and can be used as either classroom demonstra tions or in the laboratory. Each experi mental description provides information on the difficulty of the experiment, materi als, procedure, hazards and precautions, disposal, discussion, and literature refer ences.
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