This book presents the most advanced review available of all aspects of -electron systems, including novel structures, new synthetic protocols, chemical and physical properties, spectroscopic and computational insights, molecular engineering, device properties and physiological properties. -Electron systems are ubiquitous in nature. Plants convert light energy into chemical energy by photosynthetic processes, in which chlorophylls and other porphyrinoids play an important role. On the one hand, research to learn about photosynthesis from nature has led to understanding of electron and energy transfer processes and to achieving artificial energy conversion systems inspired by nature. On the other hand, recent advances in organic and inorganic chemistry make it possible to construct novel -electron systems that had never existed in nature. The authors of this book are from a variety of research fields including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science, and biology, providing a comprehensive overview of -electron systems for a broad readership. Not only specialists but also graduate students working in -electron systems will find the book of great interest. Throughout, the diverse potential for future fruitful applications of -electron systems is revealed to the reader.

The subject of optogenetics is comprehensively covered in this book, including physical, chemical, and biological topics of light-sensing proteins and their application in biological systems, particularly in neuroscience and medicine and the related opto-electronics. Optogenetics is a new technology that combines genetics and optics. It enables one to manipulate or measure the function of identified cells or neurons in a tissue by light with an accuracy in the range of milliseconds, even in a freely moving animal. Optogenetics has already become a powerful tool for revealing the neural mechanisms underlying behavior and analyzing various physiological phenomena. It is also expected to become useful for treating neural dysfunctions such as Parkinson disease and for the development of a brain-machine interface. This book should be read by any scientist or student performing research in any way related to optogenetics. As a milestone publication on optogenetics, this book will serve as a compass for any researcher, from beginners to experts, to explore this uncharted world.