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
