This text provides a uniform and consistent approach to diversified problems encountered in the study of dynamical processes in condensed phase molecular systems. Given the broad interdisciplinary aspect of this subject, the book focuses on three themes: coverage of needed background material, in-depth introduction of methodologies, and analysis of several key applications. The uniform approach and common language used in all discussions help to develop general understanding and insight on condensed phases chemical dynamics. The applications discussed are among the most fundamental processes that underlie physical, chemical and biological phenomena in complex systems.
The first part of the book starts with a general review of basic mathematical and physical methods (Chapter 1) and a few introductory chapters on quantum dynamics (Chapter 2), interaction of radiation and matter (Chapter 3) and basic properties of solids (chapter 4) and liquids (Chapter 5). In the second part the text embarks on a broad coverage of the main methodological approaches. The central role of classical and quantum time correlation functions is emphasized in Chapter 6. The presentation of dynamical phenomena in complex systems as stochastic processes is discussed in Chapters 7 and 8. The basic theory of quantum relaxation phenomena is developed in Chapter 9, and carried on in Chapter 10 which introduces the density operator, its quantum evolution in Liouville space, and the concept of reduced equation of motions. The methodological part concludes with a discussion of linear response theory in Chapter 11, and of the spin-boson model in chapter 12. The third part of the book applies the methodologies introducedearlier to several fundamental processes that underlie much of the dynamical behaviour of condensed phase molecular systems. Vibrational relaxation and vibrational energy transfer (Chapter 13), Barrier crossing and diffusion controlled reactions (Chapter 14), solvation dynamics (Chapter 15), electron transfer in bulk solvents (Chapter 16) and at electrodes/electrolyte and metal/molecule/metal junctions (Chapter 17), and several processes pertaining to molecular spectroscopy in condensed phases (Chapter 18) are the main subjects discussed in this part.

The Seventeenth Jerusalem Symposium focused on dynamics on surfaces, a subject of interest in the areas of chemistry, physics and material sciences. The Symposium reflected the high standeds of these distinguished scientific meetings, which convene yearly at the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities to discuss a specific topic in the broad area of quantum chemistry and biochemistry. Molecule-surface dynamics constitutes a fast developing, current, research area. The main theme of the Symposium was built around a conceptual framework for the elucidation of the chemical and physical aspects of atomic and molecular scattering off surfaces, surface transport, surface reaction dynamics and radiative interactions on surfaces. The interdisciplinary nature of this research area was emphasized by intensive and extensive interactions between scientists from different disciplines and between theory and experiment. HeLd under the auspices of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Hebrew University of JerusaLem, the Seventeenth JerusaLem Symposium was sponsored by the Institut de BioLogie Physico- Chimique (Fondation Edmond de RothschiLd) of Paris. We wish to ex- press our deep thanks to Baron Edmond de Rothschild for his continuous and generous support, which makes him a true partner in this important endeavour. We would aLso like to express our gratitude to the Admi- nistrative Staff of the Israel Academy, and in particular to Mrs. AvigaiL Hyam, for the efficiency and exceLLency of the LocaL arrangements.

This text provides a uniform and consistent approach to diversified problems encountered in the study of dynamical processes in condensed phase molecular systems. Given the broad interdisciplinary aspect of this subject, the book focuses on three themes: coverage of needed background material, in-depth introduction of methodologies, and analysis of several key applications. The uniform approach and common language used in all discussions help to develop general understanding and insight on condensed phases chemical dynamics. The applications discussed are among the most fundamental processes that underlie physical, chemical, and biological phenomena in complex systems.