A unified overview of the dynamical properties of water and its unique and diverse role in biological and chemical processes.

Liquid-crystalline phases are now known to be formed by an ever growing range of quite diverse materials, these include those of low molecular weight as well as the novel liquid-crystalline polymers, such phases can also be induced by the addition of a solvent to amphiphilic systems leading to lyotropic liquid crystals. Irrespective of the structure of the constituent molecules these numerous liquid-cl)'Stailine phases are characterised by their long range orientational order. In addition certain phases exhibit elements of long range positional order. Our understanding, both experimental and theoretical, at the molecular level of the static behaviour of these fascinating and important materials is now well advanced. In contrast the influence of the long range order; both orientational and positional, on the molecular dynamics in liquid Cl)'Stais is less well understood. In an attempt to address this situation a NATO Advanced Study Institute devoted to liquid ctystal dynamics was held at n Ciocco, Barga, Italy in September 1989. This brought together experimentalists and theoreticians concerned with the various dynamical processes occurring in all liquid crystals. The skills of the participants was impressively wide ranging; they spanned the experimental techniques used in the study of molecular dynamics, the nature of the systems investigated and the theoretical models employed to understand the results. While much was learnt it was also recognised that much more needed to be done in order to advance our understanding of molecular dynamics in liquid Cl)'Stais.

When, in my capacity as President of the Societe de Chimie physique, I opened the 24th Annual Meeting of this Society, devoted this year to 'molecular motions in liquids', I was stirred by a particular emotion. This had two reasons, one general and the other rather personal. I would like to give an explanation in the Foreword to this volume of communications to the Meeting and their ensuing discussions. An essential characteristic of science is its international nature. It is like a symphony composed of contributions by all the countries playing together as an orchestra in unison. Just as a melody has different 'colours' when played by strings or woodwinds, so there exist similar 'colour' differences, subtle ones, between scientific contributions from different countries, rooted as they are in their own cultural history and liable to impoverish the ensemble if they should cease to participate. I have always had an impression of marked 'colour' differences prevailing among American, Russian, Japanese and European contributions, although within the latter group the timbre is very much the same. This is why I have dreamed of a European 'chamber orchestra' in addition to the great world orchestra.

Successful characterization of polymer systems is one of the most important objectives of today's experimental research of polymers. Considering the tremendous scientific, technological, and economic importance of polymeric materials, not only for today's applications but for the industry of the 21st century, it is impossible to overestimate the usefulness of experimental techniques in this field. Since the chemical, pharmaceutical, medical, and agricultural industries, as well as many others, depend on this progress to an enormous degree, it is critical to be as efficient, precise, and cost-effective in our empirical understanding of the performance of polymer systems as possible. This presupposes our proficiency with, and understanding of, the most widely used experimental methods and techniques.This book is designed to fulfill the requirements of scientists and engineers who wish to be able to carry out experimental research in polymers using modern methods. Each chapter describes the principle of the respective method, as well as the detailed procedures of experiments with examples of actual applications. Thus, readers will be able to apply the concepts as described in the book to their own experiments. - Addresses the most important practical techniques for experimental research in the growing field of polymer science - The first well-documented presentation of the experimental methods in one consolidated source - Covers principles, practical techniques, and actual examples - Can be used as a handbook or lab manual for both students and researchers - Presents ideas and methods from an international perspective - Techniques addressed in this volume include: - Light Scattering - Neutron Scattering and X-Ray Scattering - Fluorescence Spectroscopy - NMR on Polymers - Rheology - Gel Experiments

This book presents the development of modern molecular models for fluids from the interdisciplinary fundamentals of classical and statistical mechanics, of electrodynamics and of quantum mechanics. The concepts and working equations of the various fields are briefly derived and illustrated in the context of understanding the properties of molecular systems. Special emphasis is devoted to the quantum mechanical basis, since this is used throughout in the calculation of the molecular energy of a system. The book is application oriented. It stresses those elements that are essential for practical model development. The fundamentals are then used to derive models for various types of applications. Finally, equation of state models are presented based on quantum chemically based models for the intermolecular potential energy and perturbation theory. The book is suited for graduate courses in chemical and mechanical engineering, physics and chemistry, but may also, by proper selection, be found useful on the undergraduate level.

Vibrational Dynamics of Molecules represents the definitive concise text on the cutting-edge field of vibrational molecular chemistry. The chapter contributors are a Who's Who of world leaders in the field. The editor, Joel Bowman, is widely considered as one of the founding fathers of theoretical reaction dynamics. The included topics span the field, from fundamental theory such as collocation methods and vibrational CI methods, to interesting applications such as astrochemistry, supramolecular systems and virtual computational spectroscopy. This is a useful reference for theoretical chemists, spectroscopists, physicists, undergraduate and graduate students, lecturers and software developers.

As part of the Physics 2010 decadal survey project, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation requested that the National Research Council assess the opportunities, over roughly the next decade, in atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) science and technology. In particular, the National Research Council was asked to cover the state of AMO science, emphasizing recent accomplishments and identifying new and compelling scientific questions. Controlling the Quantum World, discusses both the roles and challenges for AMO science in instrumentation; scientific research near absolute zero; development of extremely intense x-ray and laser sources; exploration and control of molecular processes; photonics at the nanoscale level; and development of quantum information technology. This book also offers an assessment of and recommendations about critical issues concerning maintaining U.S. leadership in AMO science and technology.