This volume presents an up-to-date overview of developments in the field of ultrafast reaction dynamics in condensed phases. Thirteen contributions, written by leading experts, report on a variety of chemical phenomena studied by many different experimental and theoretical techniques. Topics discussed include ultrafast spectroscopic techniques; aspects of electron transfer reactions ranging from solvent effects; intermolecular and intramolecular systems, to dynamics at semiconductor surfaces; the dynamics of chemical systems using Raman spectroscopy; pericyclic photochemical rearrangements and photodissociation reactions; solvent--solute interaction dynamics; and chemical dynamics in clusters. Theoretical treatments of impulsive femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy, solvation dynamics and electron transfer are presented. The field of ultrafast chemistry is growing rapidly. The works described in this volume provide an overview of many of the exciting areas currently under study. For researchers interested in up-to-date theoretical and experimental developments in ultrafast spectroscopy in chemical systems.

This volume contains papers presented at the Tenth International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena held at Del Coronado, California, from May 28 to June 1, 1996. The biannual Ultrafast Phenomena Conferences provide a forum for the discussion of the latest advances in ultrafast optics and their applications in science and engineering. The Ultrafast Phenomena Conference maintains a broad international representation with 391 participants from 18 countries, including 94 students attending the conference. The multidisciplinary character of this meeting provides a cross-fertilization of ultrafast concepts and techniques among various scientific and engineering disciplines. The enthusiasm of the paticipants, the originality and quality of the papers that they presented, and the beautiful conference site combined to produce a very successful and enjoyable meeting. Progress was reported in the technology of generating ultrashort pulses, in cluding new techniques for improving laser-pulse duration, output power, wave length range, and compactness. Ultrafast spectroscopy continues to impact on and expand the knowledge base of fundamental processes in physics, chemistry, biol ogy and engineering. In addition ultrafast phenomena now extends to real-world applications in biology, high-speed communication, and material diagnostics. The Tenth Ultrafast Phenomena Conference was highlighted by a 'special event' in which the developments of the previous conferences were reviewed in a panel discussion by G. Mourou, E. Ippen, A. Migus, A. Laubereau and R. Hochstrasser.

Few books cover experimental and theoretical methods to characterize decomposition, combustion and detonation of energetic materials. This volume, by internationally known and major contributors to the field, is unique because it summarizes the most important recent work, what we know with confidence, and what main areas remain to be investigated. Most chapters comprise summaries of work spanning decades and contain expert commentary available nowhere else. Although energetic materials are its focus, this book provides a guide to modern methods for investigations of condensed and gas-phase reactions. Although these energetic reactions are complex and difficult to study, the work discussed here provides readers with a substantial understanding of the behavior of materials now in use, and a predictive capability for the development of new materials based on target properties.

Molecular Modeling of the Sensitivities of Energetic Materials, Volume 22 introduces experimental aspects, explores the relationships between sensitivity, molecular structure and crystal structure, discusses insights from numerical simulations, and highlights applications of these approaches to the design of new materials. Providing practical guidelines for implementing predictive models and their application to the search for new compounds, this book is an authoritative guide to an exciting field of research that warrants a computer-aided approach for the investigation and design of safe and powerful explosives or propellants. Much recent effort has been put into modeling sensitivities, with most work focusing on impact sensitivity and leading to a lot of experimental data in this area. Models must therefore be developed to allow evaluation of significant properties from the structure of constitutive molecules. - Highlights a range of approaches for computational simulation and the importance of combining them to accurately understand or estimate different parameters - Provides an overview of experimental findings and knowledge in a quick and accessible format - Presents guidelines to implement sensitivity models using open-source python-related software, thus supporting easy implementation of flexible models and allowing fast assessment of hypotheses

Two volumes contain 350 papers presented at the 13th Biennial International Conference of the APS Topical Group on Shock Compression of Condensed Matter (Portland, Oregon, July 2003). One of the three plenary lectures was given by James Asay (Institute for Shock Physics, Washington State U., Pullman, Washington) on wave structure studies in condensed matter physics. The papers in v.1 address nonenergetic materials; energetic materials; phase transitions; the modeling, simulation, theory, and molecular dynamics modeling of nonreactive and reactive materials; spall, fracture, and fragmentation; constitutive and microstructural properties of metals; mechanical properties of polymers and composites; and mechanical properties of ceramics, glasses, ionic solids, and liquids. The largest number of papers in v.2 are under the headings mechanical properties of reactive materials; detonation and burn phenomena; explosive and initiation studies; experimental techniques; and geophysics, structures, and medical applications. The contributors represent 14 countries, where they work in state and private industry and academic settings. Indexed by both author and subject. Annotation :2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).