Several previous Advanced Study Institutes have concentrated on the techniques of light scattering, while the biological appli cations were not fully explored. Many of the techniques are now standardised and are being applied to a wide range of biologically significant problems both in vivo and in vitro. While laser light scattering methods are superior to conventional methods, there was a general reluctance among biologists to adopt them because of the complexity of the physical techniques and the accompanying mathe matical analysis. Consequently valuable opportunities for advancing the understanding of the biological problems were being missed. Advances in the design and commercial availability of standard light scattering instruments, and the availability of standard computer programs, made the more widespread use of these techniques a practical reality for the biologist. While biologists are unable to cope with the complexities of the physical techniques, physicists are generally unaware of the nature and scale of the biological problems. The meeting at Maratea was an attempt to bring these two groups together and provide an impetus for the application of laser light scattering techniques to biology. This volume differs from the three previous proceedings on laser light scattering in the NATO ASI series (B3, B23, B73), in that it has been published in the Life Sciences series rather than the Physics series, reflecting the shift in emphasis from the development of a new technique to its application in biology.

Advances in Botanical Research

Geared toward upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, this text introduces the interdisciplinary area of laser light scattering. It focuses chiefly on quasielastic laser scattering, discussing theoretical concepts at a realistic level. Some background in the physical sciences is assumed, but the opening chapters offer a brief review of classical electricity and magnetism as well as the general scattering theory. Topics include basic theoretical concepts related to light mixing spectroscopy, characteristics of the Fabry-Perot interferometer, and photon-counting fluctuations. The author, a distinguished professor in the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University, discusses experimental methods, including setting up a light scattering spectrometer using digital photon-counting and correlation techniques. Subsequent chapters explore applications to macromolecular systems, anemometry and its utility in reaction kinetics, and critical opalescence. References appear throughout the text.

Optical Techniques in Biological Research discusses the fundamentals and applications of light scattering, Raman scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nanosecond fluorescence spectroscopy, and circular dichroism. Electron microscopy is also included owing to some of its classical similarity to optical microscopy optical structural and resonance techniques for biological research. The chapters are aimed at a level such that only a general understanding of chemistry and biology is required. The objective is to present material in a way that allows the research worker to assess quickly the applicability, utility, and significance of the specific technique to his or her problem or field of interest. Together with Structural and Resonance Techniques in Biological Research, this book marks the introduction of a new series of volumes, Physical Techniques in Biology and Medicine, which is intended to replace a previous treatise, Physical Techniques in Biological Research.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.