Rotational Structure in Molecular Infrared Spectra

A much-needed guide to the theoretical principles and contemporary applications of high-resolution molecular spectroscopy

Carlo di Lauro (Author)

9780124077713, Elsevier Science

Hardback, published 20 June 2013

344 pages, Approx. 200 illustrations
23.4 x 19 x 2.4 cm, 0.75 kg

"Lauro offers a bridge between recent research on advanced aspects of molecular spectroscopy and elementary basic methods in the field of the rotational structure in the infrared spectra of gaseous molecules, an area that has not been studied much during the past few decades." --ProtoView.com, April 2014

Recent advances in infrared molecular spectroscopy have resulted in sophisticated theoretical and laboratory methods that are difficult to grasp without a solid understanding of the basic principles and underlying theory of vibration-rotation absorption spectroscopy. Rotational Structure in Molecular Infrared Spectra fills the gap between these recent, complex topics and the most elementary methods in the field of rotational structure in the infrared spectra of gaseous molecules. There is an increasing need for people with the skills and knowledge to interpret vibration-rotation spectra in many scientific disciplines, including applications in atmospheric and planetary research. Consequently, the basic principles of vibration-rotation absorption spectroscopy are addressed for contemporary applications. In addition to covering operational quantum mechanical methods, spherical tensor algebra, and group theoretical methods applied to molecular symmetry, attention is also given to phase conventions and their effects on the values of matrix elements. Designed for researchers and PhD students involved in the interpretation of vibration-rotation spectra, the book intentionally separates basic theoretical arguments (in the appendices), allowing readers who are mainly concerned with applications to skip the principles while at the same time providing a sound theoretical basis for readers who are looking for more foundational information.

1. The Vibration-Rotation Problem2. Interaction of Matter and Light3. Molecular Symmetry and Spectroscopy4. Symmetry of Wavefunctions in Vibration-Rotation Spectroscopy5. Nuclear Spin Statistical Weights6. Expansion and Transformations of the Vibration-Rotation Hamiltonian7. Effects of Centrifugal Distortions8. Spectra of Symmetric Top Molecules9. Spectra of Asymmetric Top Molecules10. Spectra of Spherical Top Molecules11. Floppy MoleculesAppendix 1: Phases of WavefunctionsAppendix 2: Eigenfunctions of Commuting OperatorsAppendix 3: Coupling of Angular MomentaAppendix 4: Angular Momentum Matrix ElementsAppendix 5: The Full Rotation Group and Irreducible Spherical TensorsAppendix 6: Direction Cosine OperatorsAppendix 7: Harmonic OscillatorsAppendix 8: Vibrational Normal Modes and Coriolis CoefficientsAppendix 9: Contact Transformation and Perturbation Methods

Subject Areas: Nuclear chemistry, photochemistry & radiation [PNRL], Spectrum analysis, spectrochemistry, mass spectrometry [PNFS], Analytical chemistry [PNF]