This book presents the latest advances in ultrafast science, including ultrafast laser and measurement technology, and studies of ultrafast phenomena. It summarizes the results presented at the 12th Ultrafast Phenomena Conference and reviews the state of the art of this important and rapidly advancing field.

This volume contains the invited papers presented at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Stochasticity and Intramolecular Redistribution of Energy" held in Orsay (France) from June 23 to July 3, 1986. The Work shop brought together leading researchers involved in the experimental and the theoretical studies of vibrational energy flow and relaxation in activated polyatomic molecules. The recent experimental developments in this area include the study of ultracold molecules in supersonic beams and the development of high resolution (frequency domain) and ultrafast (time domain) spectroscopic techniques. On the theoretical side the intro duction of statistical methods (random matrix theory, reduced equations of motion) and efficient numerical algorithms provide an adequate frame work for the interpretation of vibrational dynamics in large polyatomic molecules. Classical, semiclassical and quantum calculations on simple model systems show the existence of regular and chaotic regions in the phase space. The articles in this volume provide an updated review of the current status of experimental studies and the relevance of the recent theoretical developments to their interpretation. We wish to thank the organizations which made this workshop possible. NATO prov ided the basic grant. We acknowledge the essential contribu tion of the late Dr Mario di Lullo in providing pertinent advice. The gen erous support of the U. S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the U. S."

This book presents the latest advances in ultrafast science, including ultrafast laser and measurement technology as well as studies of ultrafast phenomena. Pico- and femtosecond processes relevant in physics, chemistry, biology and engineering are presented. Ultrafast technology has had a profound impact in a wide range of applications, among them imaging, material diagnostics and transformation and high-speed optoelectronics. This book summarizes the results presented at the 12th Ultrafast Phenomena Conference and reviews the state of the art of this important and rapidly advancing field.