BOOK REVIEW Laser Spectroscopy. Basic Concepts and Instrumentation. By W. Demtroder. Springer-Verlag Berlin 2nd edn. 1996. Pp. xvii + 924. Price DM148.00 ISBN 3-540-57171 -X. This is an extremely thorough text focusing first of all on the theory and instrumentation of spectroscopy. This is covered in three comprehensive (introductory) chapters which include details of the theory of absorption and emission spectral line broadening spectrometers and associated detectors. The attention of the book then turns to its main focus lasers and their use and application in spectroscopy. The fundamentals of lasers and their spectral characteristics are covered in generous detail. Eight chapters then follow that cover the rudiments of lasers of different types and configurations for Doppler-limited absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy non-linear spectroscopy Raman spectroscopy molecular beam spectroscopy double-resonance techniques time-resolved spectroscopy coherent spectroscopy and collision processes.‘New developments’ is always a dangerous title to include in any book because of the delays in production and printing. However topics such as the optical cooling and trapping of atoms the spectroscopy of single ions and absolute optical frequency measurements and optical frequency standards should keep the ardent laser spectroscopist happy. Finally and of direct relevance to the practitioner or specialist is a dedicated chapter on applications. This chapter is further sub-divided into five parts focussing on applications in chemistry (including analytical chemistry); environmental research; technical problems; biology; and medical applications.For me this was the most interesting and reader friendly part of the book (probably the analytical chemist part of me). In addition to the comprehensive nature of the text the reader is led through the mathematics by the use of worked examples and additional problems. For students seeking to gain full value from the text the inclusion of the examples is particularly noteworthy. The intense detail of the book does not provide a text that the user will read from cover to cover (unless over a long time period). However as a useful guide for postgraduate students and researchers in the field seeking to reinforce basic theory and principles behind the techniques used it is certainly a useful text. Its relatively high cost will preclude individuals from purchasing their own copies but the text will probably find its way onto library shelves. John R. Dean University of Northumbria at Newcastle Newcastle-upon- Tyne NE18ST UK 42N Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry October 1996 Vol. 11