Magnetic energy release plays an important role in a wide variety of cosmic objects such as the Sun, stellar coronae, stellar and galactic accretion disks and pulsars. The observed radio, X-ray and gamma-ray emission often directly results from magnetic flares', implying that these processes are spatially fragmented and of an impulsive nature. A true understanding of these processes requires a combined magnetohydrodynamical and plasma physical approach. Fragmented Energy Release in Sun and Stars: the Interface between MHD and Plasma Physics provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary summary of magnetic energy release in the Sun and stars, in accretion disks, in pulsar magnetospheres and in laboratory plasmas. These proceedings include papers on both theoretical and observational aspects. Fragmented Energy Release in Sun and Stars: the Interface between MHD and Plasma Physics is for researchers in the fields of solar physics, stellar astrophysics and (laboratory) plasma physics and is a useful resource book for graduate level astrophysics courses.

Since its launch in 1991, the Yohkoh satellite has been returning unprecedented observations of solar flares and the dynamic solar corona. This book is a collection of papers presented at a meeting held in: Yoyogi, Tokyo, on the occasion of Yohkoh's fifth anniversary of operation. The papers constitute a summary of observations and results over the five years, including contributions based on data from Yohkoh's hard and soft X-ray telescopes and its spectrometer experiments. The five years of data, covering approximately one-half of a solar cycle, reveal a fresh perspective on solar science, with a new picture of solar flares and the active Sun emerging. Also, for the first time there are extensive results from Yohkoh observations of the Sun during the solar minimum period. This wide-ranging volume will be of interest to workers in solar physics and X-ray astronomy. It also contains material appropriate for supplemental reading for graduate students in solar physics.

This book of proceedings collects the papers presented at the workshop on "Diagnostics for Experimental Fusion Reactors" held at Villa Monastero, Varenna (Italy) September 4-12, 1997. This workshop was the seventh organized by the International School of Plasma Physics "Piero Caldirola" on the topic of plasma diagnostics and the second devoted to the diagnostic studies for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The proceedings of the first workshop on ITER diagnostics were published by Plenum Press in 1996 with the title "Diagnostics for Experimental Thermonuclear Fusion Reactors". While many of the ideas and studies reported in the first workshop remain valid, there has been sub stantial progress in the design and specification of many diagnostics for ITER. This moti vated a second workshop on this topic and the publication of a new book of proceedings. ITER is a joint venture between Europe, Japan, Russia and USA in the field of con trolled thermonuclear fusion research. The present aim of ITER is to design an experimental fusion reactor that can demonstrate ignition and sustained burn in a magnetically confined plasma. To achieve this goal, a wide range of plasma parameters will have to be measured reliably. It is also anticipated that diagnostics will be used much more extensively as input to control systems on ITER than on present fusion devices and this will require increased relia bility and long-term stability.

I am most pleased and, in a way, I feel honored to write the Foreword for the book The Hanle Effect and Level-Crossing Spectroscopy, which covers such a very wide range of applications not only in the initial areas of atomic and molecular physics, but also in solid state physics, solar physics, laser physics, and gravitational metrology. To link these fields together in a coherent way has been the merit of the editors of the book, who attracted most distinguished authors for writing the chapters. In retrospect to Hanle's discovery of quantum mechanical coherence between two quantum states about 65 years ago, this book demonstrates the enormous impact and central importance the effect has had, and most vividly still has, on modern physics. On the other hand, the concept of quantum mechanical coherence, which is an outgrowth of the linear super position principle of quantum states, has been evident through a consider able number of experimental methods beyond the original Hanle effect; some of these methods were only recently discovered or applied and they have indeed revolutionized research fields such as atomic collision physics."

Quantum theory is one of the most fascinating and successful constructs in the intellectual history of mankind. Nonetheless, the theory has very shaky philosophical foundations. This book contains thoughtful discussions by eminent researchers of a spate of experimental techniques newly developed to test some of the stranger predictions of quantum physics. The advances considered include recent experiments in quantum optics, electron and ion interferometry, photon down conversion in nonlinear crystals, single trapped ions interacting with laser beams, atom-field coupling in micromaser cavities, quantum computation, quantum cryptography, decoherence and macroscopic quantum effects, the quantum state diffusion model, quantum gravity, the quantum mechanics of cosmology and quantum non-locality along with the continuing debate surrounding the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Audience: The book is intended for physicists, philosophers of science, mathematicians, graduate students and those interested in the foundations of quantum theory.

Plasma Processing of Semiconductors contains 28 contributions from 18 experts and covers plasma etching, plasma deposition, plasma-surface interactions, numerical modelling, plasma diagnostics, less conventional processing applications of plasmas, and industrial applications. Audience: Coverage ranges from introductory to state of the art, thus the book is suitable for graduate-level students seeking an introduction to the field as well as established workers wishing to broaden or update their knowledge.

Collision-or interaction-induced spectroscopy refers to radiative transitions, which are forbidden in free atoms or molecules, but which occur in clusters of interacting atoms or molecules. The most common phenomena are induced absorption, in the infrared region, and induced light scattering, which involves inelastic scattering of visible laser light. The particle interactions giving rise to the necessary induced dipole moments and polarizabilities are modelled at long range by multipole expansions; at short range, electron overlap and exchange mechanisms come into play. Information on atomic and molecular interactions and dynamics in dense media on a picosecond timescale may be drawn from the spectra. Collision-induced absorption in the infrared was discovered at the University of Toronto in 1949 by Crawford, Welsh and Locke who studied liquid O and N. Through the 1950s and 1960s, 2 2 experimental elucidation of the phenomenon, particularly in gases, continued and theoretical underpinnings were established. In the late 1960s, the related phenomenon of collision-induced light scattering was first observed in compressed inert gases. In 1978, an 'Enrico Fermi' Summer School was held at Varenna, Italy, under the directorship of J. Van Kranendonk. The lectures, there, reviewed activity from the previous two decades, during which the approach to the subject had not changed greatly. In 1983, a highly successful NATO Advanced Research Workshop was held at Bonas, France, under the directorship of G. Birnbaum. An important outcome of that meeting was the demonstration of the maturity and sophistication of current experimental and theoretical techniques.

This understandable and inspiring book brings together both theorists and experimentalists working on the properties of nuclear and hadronic matter produced in heavy-ion collisions in various energy ranges. The main focus is on experimental signals revealing the possible phase changes of the matter.

In this new textbook on physical chemistry, fundamentals are introduced simply yet in more depth than is common. Topics are arranged in a progressive pattern, with simpler theory early and more complicated theory later. General principles are induced from key experimental results. Some mathematical background is supplied where it would be helpful. Each chapter includes worked-out examples and numerous references. Extensive problems, review, and discussion questions are included for each chapter. More detail than is common is devoted to the nature of work and heat and how they differ. Introductory Caratheodory theory and the standard integrating factor for dGrev are carefully developed. The fundamental role played by uncertainty and symmetry in quantum mechanics is emphasized. In chemical kinetics, various methods for determined rate laws are presented. The key mechanisms are detailed. Considerable statistical mechanics and reaction rate theory are then surveyed. Professor Duffey has given us a most readable, easily followed text in physical chemistry.

This volume contains the lectures and seminars presented at the NATO Ad vanced Study Institute on "Solid State Lasers: New Developments and Appli cations" the fifteenth course of the Europhysics School of Quantum Electronics, held under the supervision of the Quantum Electronics Division of the European Physical Society. The Institute was held at Elba International Physics Center, Marciana Marina, Elba Island, Tuscany, Italy, August 31 -September 11, 1992. The Europhysics School of Quantum Electronics was started in 1970 with the aim of providing instruction for young researchers and advanced students al ready engaged in the area of quantum electronics or wishing to switch to this area from a different background. Presently the school is under the direction of Professors F.T. Arecchi and M. Inguscio, University of Florence, and Prof. H. Walther, University of Munich, and has its headquarters at the National Insti tute of Optics (INO), Florence, Italy. Each time the directors choose a subject of particular interest, alternating fundamental topics with technological ones, and ask colleagues specifically competent in a given area to take the scientific responsibility for that course.

This volume contains the proceedings of the third Euroconference on Atomic Phys ics at Accelerators (APAC 2001), with the title Stored Particles and Fundamental Physics. It was held in Aarhus, Denmark, from September 8 to 13 at the Marselis Hotel located near the beach and the Marselis Woods outside Aarhus, but some of the activities took place at the Department of Physics, University of Aarhus. The conference was sponsored by the Commission of the European Union (Contract No. ERBFMMACT980469) and also by the Danish Research Foundation through ACAP (Aarhus Center for Atomic Physics). The meeting was focused on the application of storage rings for atomic physics, and there are two fairly small rings in Aarhus, ASTRID (Aarhus STorage Ring for Ions,Denmark) and ELISA (ELectrostatic Ion Storage ring, Aarhus). The research at these rings has contributed to the strong position of European Science in this field. Both rings are designed according to unique concepts. ASTRID is a dual purpose ring, which half the time stores electrons for the generation of low-energy synchrotron radiation. The storage of negative particles has also been a unique feature for the application of ASTRID as an ion storage ring.

Quantum information science is a new field of science and technology which requires the collaboration of researchers coming from different fields of physics, mathematics, and engineering: both theoretical and applied. Quantum Computing and Quantum Bits in Mesoscopic Systems addresses fundamental aspects of quantum physics, enhancing the connection between the quantum behavior of macroscopic systems and information theory. In addition to theoretical quantum physics, the book comprehensively explores practical implementation of quantum computing and information processing devices. On the experimental side, this book reports on recent and previous observations of quantum behavior in several physical systems, coherently coupled Bose-Einstein condensates, quantum dots, superconducting quantum interference devices, Cooper pair boxes, and electron pumps in the context of the Josephson effect. In these systems, the book discusses all required steps, from fabrication through characterization to the final basic implementation for quantum computing.

The NATO . Advanced Research Insti tute on Nonequilibrium Processes in Partially Ionized Gases was held at Acquafredda di Maratea during 4-17 June 1989. The Institute considered the interconnections between scattering and transport theories and modeling of nonequilibrium systems generated by electrical discharges, emphasizing the importance of microscopic processes in affecting the bulk properties of plasmas. The book tries to reproduce these lines. In particular several contributions describe scattering cross sections involving electrons interacting with atoms and molecules in both ground and excited states (from theoretical and experimental point of view), of energy transfer processes as well as reactive ones involving excited molecules colliding with atoms and molecules as well as with metallic surfaces. Other contributions deal with the basis of transport theories (Boltzmann and Monte Carlo methods) for describing the bulk properties of non equilibrium plasmas as well as with the modeling of complicated systems emphasizing in particular the strong coupling between the Boltzmann equation and excited state kinetics. Finally the book contains several contributions describing applications in different fields such as Excimer Lasers, Negative Ion Production, RF Discharges, Plasma Chemistry, Atmospheric Processes and Physics of Lamps. The Organizing Committee gratefully acknowledges the generous financial support provided by the NATO Science Committee as well as by Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno e Turismo of Maratea, by University of Bari, by C. N. R. (Centro di Studio per la Chimica dei Plasmi and Comitato per la Chimica), by ENEA, by Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and by US Army Research Office.

Microcluster Physics provides a lucid account of the fundamental physics of all types of microclusters, outlining the dynamics and static properties of this new phase of matter intermediate between a solid and a molecule. Since originally published in 1991, the field of microclusters has experienced surprising developments, which are reviewed in this new edition: The determination of atomic structure, spontaneous alloying, super-shell, fission, fragmentation, evaporation, magnetism, fullerenes, nanotubes, atomic structure of large silicon clusters, superfluidity of a He cluster, water clusters in liquid, electron correlation and optimizsation of the geometry, and scattering.

The rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full Ecclesiastes What is quantum chemistry? The straightforward answer is that it is what quan tum chemists do. But it must be admitted, that in contrast to physicists and chemists, "quantum chemists" seem to be a rather ill-defined category of scientists. Quantum chemists are more or less physicists (basically theoreticians), more or less chemists, and by and large, computationists. But first and foremost, we, quantum chemists, are conscious beings. We may safely guess that quantum chemistry was one of the first areas in the natural sciences to lie on the boundaries of many disciplines. We may certainly claim that quantum chemists were the first to use computers for really large scale calculations. The scope of the problems which quantum chemistry wishes to answer and which, by its unique nature, only quantum chemistry can answer is growing daily. Retrospectively we may guess that many of those problems meet a daily need, or are say, technical in some sense. The rest are fundamental or conceptual. The daily life of most quantum chemists is usually filled with grasping the more or less technical problems. But it is at least as important to devote some time to the other kind of problems whose solution will open up new perspectives for both quantum chemistry itself and for the natural sciences in general.

The emergence and spectacularly rapid evolution of the field of atomic and molecular clusters are among the most exciting developments in the recent his- tory of natural sciences. The field of clusters expands into the traditional disci- plines of physics, chemistry, materials science, and biology, yet in many respects it forms a cognition areaofits own. The identifying attributes ofthis area reflect the specificity ofthe objects, subjects, problems, and issues it addresses, and the concepts, methodologies, techniques, and tools it utilizes. All these ultimately relate to and are defined by a single common characteristic - the finite size of the targeted systems. Theterm "finite" represents a broad rangeofsizes- from small (afew to a few tens of atoms and molecules) to large (thousands of atoms and molecules). This varietyof si~es and thesize-dependenceofthe propertieswould alone besufficient to make the cluster field a broad and challenging research area. The variety of elements one can use (and nature uses) to form clusters and the different types of interatomic interactions in clusters of different elements and materials only enhance the diversity and the richness of the field. To unravel, understand, and describe cluster properties one often has to in- voke complementaryconcepts and techniques, and, what is most challenging and stimulating, develop new ones. This book presents a "cross section" of theoreti- cal approaches and their applications in studies ofdifferent cluster systems. The last three articles provide a "glimpse" at experimental cluster research.

Both molecular spectroscopy and computational chemistry have witnessed rapid significant progresses in recent years. On the one hand, it is nowadays possible to compute, to quite a reasonable degree of accuracy, almost all fundamental spectroscopic properties for small molecular systems. The theoretical approach is now properly considered to be of fundamental importance in attaining a high degree of understanding of spectroscopic information. Moreover, it may be also a great help in designing and planning experiments. On the other hand, new and very powerful experimental techniques have been developed. This book combines an advanced teaching standpoint with an emphasis on the interplay between theoretical and experimental molecular spectroscopy. It covers a wide range of topics (such as molecular dynamics and reactivity, conformational analysis, hydrogen bonding and solvent effects, spectroscopy of excited states, complex spectra interpretation and simulation, software development and biochemical applications of molecular spectroscopy) and considers a large variety of molecular spectroscopic techniques, either from an experimental or from a theoretical perspective. (short text) This book combines an advanced teaching standpoint with an emphasis on the interplay between theoretical and experimental molecular spectroscopy. It covers a wide range of topics (such as molecular dynamics and reactivity, conformational analysis, hydrogen bonding and solvent effects, spectroscopy of excited states, complex spectra interpretation and simulation, software development and biochemical applications of molecular spectroscopy) and considers a large variety of molecular spectroscopic techniques either from an experimental or from a theoretical perspective.

In both the present volume of Advances in Nuclear Physics and in the next volume, which will follow in a few months' time, we have stretched our normal pattern of reviews by including articles of more major proportions than any we have published before. As a result we have only three review articles in Volume 5. From the beginning of this series it has been our aim, as editors, to achieve variation in the scope, style, and length of individual articles sufficient to match the needs of the individual topic, rather than to restrain authors within rigid limits. It has not been our experience that this flexibility has led to unnecessary exuberance on the part of the authors. We feel that the major articles now entering the series are entirely justified. The article by Professor Delves on "Variational Techniques in the Nuclear Three-Body Problem" is an authoritative, definitive article on a subject which forms a cornerstone of nuclear physics. If we start with two body interactions, then the three-nucleon system is, perhaps, the only many nucleon system whose exact description may lie within the scope of human ingenuity. In recent years some new techniques of scattering theory, origi nating mostly in particle physics, have led to a great deal of new interest in the nuclear three-body problem. In this series we have had two articles (by Mitra and by Duck) on the new approaches."

Californium-252 is a neutron emitter with a high specific activity, making it useful in a variety of applications, the most spectacular of which is in brachytherapy for cancer patients. Radiation oncology has exhausted nearly every option for treating radioresistant tumors by photon brachytherapy, and therefore new types of radiation need to be studied to improve the curability of cancer. Audience: Californium brachytherapy is used in only a few radiation therapy centers in the world, so the book will be highly instructive for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and radiobiologists. The nuclear techniques used in clinical applications may also interest nuclear physicists and engineers.

Density Functional Theory (DFT) has firmly established itself as the workhorse for atomic-level simulations of condensed phases, pure or composite materials and quantum chemical systems. This work offers a rigorous and detailed introduction to the foundations of this theory, up to and including such advanced topics as orbital-dependent functionals as well as both time-dependent and relativistic DFT. Given the many ramifications of contemporary DFT, the text concentrates on the self-contained presentation of the basics of the most widely used DFT variants: this implies a thorough discussion of the corresponding existence theorems and effective single particle equations, as well as of key approximations utilized in implementations. The formal results are complemented by selected quantitative results, which primarily aim at illustrating the strengths and weaknesses of particular approaches or functionals. The structure and content of this book allow a tutorial and modular self-study approach: the reader will find that all concepts of many-body theory which are indispensable for the discussion of DFT - such as the single-particle Green's function or response functions - are introduced step by step, along with the actual DFT material. The same applies to basic notions of solid state theory, such as the Fermi surface of inhomogeneous, interacting systems. In fact, even the language of second quantization is introduced systematically in an Appendix for readers without formal training in many-body theory.

In its combination of an advanced teaching standpoint with an emphasis on new perspectives and recent advances in the study of liquids formed by simple molecules, Molecular Liquids: New Perspectives in Physics and Chemistry provides a clear, understandable guide through the complexities of the subject. A wide range of topics is covered in the areas of intermolecular forces, statistical mechanics, the microscopic dynamics of simple liquids, thermodynamics of solutions, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics, molecular models for transport and relaxation in fluids, liquid simulations, statistical band shape theories, conformational studies, fast-exchange dynamics, and hydrogen bonding. The experimental techniques covered include: neutron scattering, X-ray diffraction, IR, Raman, NMR, quasielastic neutron scattering, and high-precision, time-resolved coherent Raman spectroscopy.

In the beginning of the 1990's, in the course of the events which were rapidly cha- ing the political con?guration of the East European countries, the crisis which - vested the vast research apparatus of the former Soviet Union was entailing con- quences whose dimension and depth were immediately realized by the international scienti?c community. In the same years, however, the most important branch of nuclear energy - searchanddevelopment, inparticularthatconcerning?ssionreactor, wasworldwide undergoing a substantial reduction due to a variety of decisional situations. Yet, paradoxically, it was a very good fortune that a number of concerns on the future of nuclear research were shared by East- and West-European scientists, especially those who were working in advanced ?elds. In fact, the only hope for coping with an uncertain future was to erect bridges between similar institutions and employ safeguarding tactics linked to a long term collaboration strategy. A decade later, this proved to be a winning decision, since the revival of nuclear energy is presently starting from a basis of common intentions and a network of established cooperation, whose seeds are to be searched in those initial, individual e?orts.

This volume is published in honor of Friedrich Hund's 100th birthday. It is a modern review on matter at high densities and pressures in astrophysics from Hund's early contribution to present-day ideas. The relation between the equation of state and the structure of compact cosmic objects is discussed, and two main contributions deal with the equation of state of baryonic matter at nuclear densities and with the numerical solution of the general relativistic field equations for non-rotating and rapidly rotating neutron stars. In a final chapter the present state of asteroseismology is presented as a tool to explore the interior of cosmic objects by analyzing the observed free oscillations of the Earth, the Sun, and white dwarf stars.