Radiationless Transitions in Polyatomic Molecules treats the dynamics of electronically excited states and the transition probabilities of electronic relaxation processes. Based on a simple and transparent, yet rigorous presentation of the basic physical concepts, the mathematical methods required are developed in detail from first principles and new light shed on the treatment of traditional issues.

Radiationless transitions comprise an important class of physical phenomena occurring in the excited states of molecules. They affect the lifetimes of the ex cited states and govern primary photochemical and photophysical processes. Much effort has been devoted to the understanding of radiationless transi tions. Still, owing to recent advances, the field continues to attract attention. The demand for a book on the theory of these processes naturally arises in at tempting to comprehend a large body of literature, as the famous review article by K. F. Freed and the book by R. Englman do not encompass some issues of current interest. Our intent is to highlight the underlying physical principles and methods in such a way that the book both in its content and its presentation is instruc tive for a wide audience. The basic ideas are treated in simple mathematical terms intelligible to ex perimentalists and to readers unfamiliar with the field. Complicated theoret ical methods are always expounded from first principles, so that a knowledge of quantum mechanics and mathematics at the graduate-student level will enable the reader to easily follow the derivations. Experts will find efficient methods of calculating the transition rates, as well as new applications of quasiclassical methods and fresh treatments of standard problems. Details of measurements are not discussed, and experimental data are only invoked to illustrate the theory.

Radiationless Transitions is a critical discussion of research studies on the theory and experiments in radiationless transitions. This book is composed of nine chapters, and begins with discussions on the theory and experiment of photophysical processes of single vibronic levels and/or single rovibronic levels. The subsequent chapters deal with the spectroscopic investigations of intramolecular vibrational relaxation; the dynamics of molecular excitation by light; and the photophysical processes of small molecules in condensed phase. The discussions then shift to the high pressure effects on molecular luminescence and the internal conversion involving localized excitations, presenting one qualitative and one quantitative example, as well as the intersystem crossing with localized excitations. A chapter explores the energy transfer processes that occur after a molecule in solution is excited by light, with an emphasis on solid solutions in which the large amplitude molecular motion is largely quenched. This chapter also looks into the liquid solutions in which the molecules can translate and rotate under the influence of fluctuating forces from the liquid. The concluding chapter focuses on ultrafast processes. Researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, and biology will benefit from this book.

Radiationless transitions concern the way energy is stored, exchanged and utilized in chemical systems. It is therefore a more important area of study than the radiative transitions which accompany them. The main thrust of the research was to modernize the theory of radiationless transitions in polyatomic molecules, and to utilize the intuition gained for suggesting interesting picosecond experiments dealing with energy exchange and other types of radiationless processes.

Photodissociation induced by the absorption of single photons permits the detailed study of molecular dynamics such as the breaking of bonds, internal energy transfer and radiationless transitions. The availability of powerful lasers operating over a wide frequency range has stimulated rapid development of new experimental techniques which make it possible to analyse photodissociation processes in unprecedented detail. This text elucidates the achievements in calculating photodissociation cross-sections and fragment state distributions from first principles, starting from multi-dimensional potential energy surfaces and the Schrödinger equation of nuclear motion. Following an extended introduction in which the various types of observables are outlined, the book summarises the basic theoretical tools, namely the time-independent and the time-dependent quantum mechanical approaches as well as the classical picture of photodissociation. The discussions of absorption spectra, diffuse vibrational structures, the vibrational and rotational state distributions of the photofragments form the core of the book. More specific topics such as the dissociation of vibrationally excited molecules, emission during dissociation, or nonadiabatic effects are also discussed. It will be of interest to graduate students and senior scientists working in molecular physics, spectroscopy, molecular collisions and molecular kinetics.