Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy covers the proceedings of the International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy, convened in Lake Placid, New York on August 16-20, 1982. This book is organized into six sections encompassing 51 chapters. The first section deals with the theoretical and computational developments concerning Raman scattering and two-photon and optical spectroscopies. Section II focuses on the instrumentation and techniques of various time-resolved vibrational spectroscopies (TRVS), such as Raman techniques, stroboscopic interferometry, and infrared multiphoton. Sections III and IV deal with the chemical (ground and excited states) and biochemical systems of TRVS. The concluding sections discuss the theoretical principles and methods of observation of nonlinear Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced and colloidal Raman scattering. This book is of value to chemists, spectroscopists, and photobiologists.

The work contained in this volume is representative of the presentations made by the participants at the Fifth International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibra tional Spectroscopy, which was held at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, from June 3 to 7, 1991. The conference was the fifth in a biennial series initiated in 1982 by Prof. George H. Atkinson (University of Arizona) at Lake Placid, USA, and subsequently convened by Prof. Alfred Laubereau (University of Bayreuth, Germany) and Dr. Manfred Stockburger (Max-Planck Institut, G6ttingen, Ger many) at Bayreuth-BischofsgrUn, Germany, in 1985, by Prof. Joop D.W. Van Voorst (University of Amsterdam) at Amersfoort, The Netherlands, in 1987, and by Prof. Thomas G. Spiro (princeton University) at Princeton, USA, in 1989. The purpose of the conference is to bring together researchers from various disciplines and provide a forum for discussion of the latest advances in time resolved spectroscopies concerned with transient vibrational phenomena and their application to fundamental scientific and engineering studies. The 167 registered participants, including 46 students, from 14 different countries, represented a wide range of scientific disciplines, and clearly indicated that the field continues to expand into new areas of physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. Their enthusiasm and the originality and quality of the contributions presented produced a very successful and enjoyable conference.

The Sixth International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy was held from May 23 to 28, 1993 in Berlin, Germany. It continued the series of biennial conferences initiated in 1982 by Prof. George Atkinson (University of Arizona) at Lake Placid, USA, followed by conferences which were chaired by Prof. Alfred Laubereau (University of Bayreuth) and Dr. Manfred Stockburger (Max-Planck-Institut, G6ttingen) at Bayreuth-Bischofsgrtin, Germany, in 1985, by Prof. Joop D.W. Van Voorst (University of Amsterdam) at Amersfoort, The Netherlands, in 1987, Prof. Thomas G. Spiro (Princeton University) at Princeton, USA, in 1989, and by Prof. Hiroaki Takahashi (Waseda University) at Tokyo, Japan, in 1991. The Berlin conference attracted 120 participants from 19 different countries, representing the most active scientific groups of the world in this field. Since 1982 the field has benefited from the development of lasers with shorter pulses and of reliable tunable light sources in the infrared. Now, the main activities are focused on the primary photo-induced processes and their excited-state dynamics and on detailed investigations in photochemistry and photobiology. The high quality of the contributions given at this conference is reflected in this proceedings volume and will provide all scientists interested in this field with current state-of-the-art results.

For more than two decades time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy (TRVS) was only part of general conferences on solid-state physics, molecular spec troscopy, photochemistry and photobiology. It was in 1982 when the first meeting on TRVS was organized at Lake Placid. The conference met a strong need among the workers in the field, and it was decided to continue with spe cial conferences on this topic. The 2nd International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spec troscopy was held June 3-i, 1985 at Bayreuth-Bischofsgrun, Germany. Sci entists from many disciplines came together to discuss their common interest in time-resolved techniques and spectroscopic applications. The high qual ity of the research presented, the enthusiasm of the participants, and the attractive surroundings combined to an enjoyable atmosphere. Ample time for discussions and the limited number of participants (approximately 100) stimulated the formal and informal exchange of ideas. "\'umerous people helped to make the conference run smoothly. Special thanks are due to Mrs. Lenich for making the technical arrangements, and to the program committee for the selection of the scientific presentations. The meeting has benefited from several financial souces. The generous sup port by the Emil-Warburg-Stiftung was particularly helpful. Financial aid of the "Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft" and of the "Bayerisches Staatsmini sterium fur U nterricht und K ultus" is also gratefully acknowledged.

The International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy (TRVS) is widely recognized as the major international forum for the discussion of advances in this rapidly growing field. The 1995 conference was the seventh in a series that began at Lake Placid, New York, 1982. Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the site of the Seventh International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy, held from June 11 to 16, 1995. TRVS-7 was attended by 157 participants from 16 countries and 85 institutions, and research ranging across the full breadth of the field of time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy was presented. Advances in both experimental capabilities for time-resolved vibrational measurements and in theoretical descriptions of time-resolved vibrational methods continue to occur, and several sessions of the conference were devoted to discussion of these advances and the associated new directions in TRVS. Continuing the interdisciplinary tradition of the TRVS meetings, applications of time-resolved vibrational methods to problems in physics, biology, materials science, and chemistry comprised a large portion of the papers presented at the conference.