Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy V: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy, Tokyo, Japan, Jun

The most recent developments in the field of time-resolved spectroscopy concerned with transient vibrational phenomena and their application to fundamental scientific and engineering studies are summarized in this proceedings volume. In more than 90 contributions from internationally well known research groups, this volume presents chapters on biological systems including protein dynamics, bacteriorhodopsin, andphotosynthesis, metal complexes and organometallic systems, photochemical reactions, transient species, excited state and vibrational dynamics, dynamics in solids, aggregates, and liquid crystals. Further sections are devoted to theoretical aspects and innovative methods and techniques. The contributions to this volume clearly indicate that the fieldcontinues to expand into new areas of physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science.

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 state-of-the-art of time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy is documented by contributions from internationally known research groups active in the field of transient vibrational phenomena and their application to fundamental science and engineering.