62N JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY DECEMBER 1993 VOL. 8 Book Review Applied Laser Spectroscopy Techniques Instrumentation and Applications Edited by David L. Andrews. Pp ix +47 1. VCH Publishers. 1992. Price E8 1 .OO DM 198.00. ISBN 1-5608 1- 023-8. ISBN 3-527 2 8072-3 ~~ ~ This book serves as an excellent intro- duction to the major areas of applica- tion of laser spectroscopy. It is aimed at the advanced pre-graduate or gradu- ate level and provides an overview of the techniques instrumentation and many specific applications of laser spectroscopy. Whilst there is coverage of atomic laser spectroscopy most of the material describes techniques and applications of molecular spectros- copy. Nonetheless all of the material is likely to be of interest to any species of spectroscopist.The book opens with chapters by Andrews and McCoustra outlining the fundamental principles and the instru- mentation used in laser spectroscopy. The properties of laser radiation and the variety of lasers and accessory equipment available to the spectros- copist are introduced. This provides the reader with some knowledge of the tools of the trade which are applied in a variety of ways in the subsequent eight chapters. Each of these subse- quent chapters written by a well- selected author focuses on distinct subject areas within laser spectros- copy. An introduction is provided to the theory applications and current status of each technique and the reader is referred to the literature for more detailed coverage of the various topics. The chapters which directly address atomic laser spectroscopy include chapter 3 by Demtroder who dis- cusses the principles of the various types of electronic photo-absorption spectroscopy.Most examples cited however relate to molecular spectro- scopy including the measurement of atmospheric NO SO and 03. The chapter by Pfab addresses the theory of laser-induced atomic fluorescence and gives brief examples of the power of this technique in trace analysis. The main focus is again molecular spec- troscopy including a discussion of applications of the technique to flame and plasma diagnostics and the mea- surement of trace atmospheric species. In Chapter 8 Goodman and Philis discuss multiphoton absorption spec- troscopy. The theory of multiphoton absorption is outlined with particular emphasis on the selection rules which can allow the study of states not readily accessible in single photon experiments.The chapter also includes a discussion of photo-acoustic and thermal lensing detection methods. Chapter 9 by Ledingham and Singhal covers laser ionization mass spectro- metry (LIMS) and both the non-reso- nant and resonant photo-ionization of gas-phase neutrals. These post-ioniza- tion methods are amongst the most sensitive and selective methods for trace atomic and molecular measure- ments. Resonance ionization schemes are presented which are applicable to all elements except Ne and He and the authors give examples of applications to single particle metals and semicon- ductor analysis as well as to the ioniza- tion of a variety of organic molecules. The remaining chapters address techniques for molecular spectro- scopy.Howard and Brown discuss high-resolution infrared spectroscopy placing the laser-based approach in context relative to other methods such as FTIR. Applications cited include the study of diatomic and small poly- atomic neutrals and ions as well as van der Waals complexes. Comple- mentary to the chapter on infrared spectroscopy are the following two chapters by Morris and by Berger Lavorel and Millot which cover Raman spectroscopy. The various types of Raman spectroscopy are outlined with examples of important applications such as Raman micro- scopy and temperature measurement by coherent anti-Stokes Raman spec- troscopy (CARS). In the final chapter laser-based methods for the investigation of ultra- fast molecular phenomena are dis- cussed.Fluorescence Raman and in- frared spectroscopies are described which take advantage of the short timescale of laser pulses to investigate highly transient phenomena. This chapter makes fascinating reading but is further than any from the subject of analytical atomic spectroscopy. As with most experimental science laser spectroscopy has its own acro- nym soup. The appendix provides a necessary interpretation for the newcomer. There is inevitably some small de- gree of overlap between chapters and without digging deeply into all of them readers may miss aspects of theory or instrumentation not covered in the introductory chapters yet relevant to more than one subject area. Examples would be the use of optical fibre probes; photo-acoustic detection; ap- proaches to the attainment of sub- Doppler spectral resolution; and the laser magnetic resonance technique. In conclusion only a minor part of the book is directly relevant to the atomic spectroscopist but the rest of the text provides an interesting overview of state-of-the-art methods. I have en- joyed reading this book and found it to be a clearly written introduction to applied laser spectroscopy. Adam McMahon Department of Chemistry Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester MI 5GD