The broad development of spectroscopy in our country and, in particular, the extensive industrial applications of methods of spectral analysis make the need for basic reference literature a pressing one. Tables of spectral lines, as basic, primary material necessary for the identifica tion of spectra, are the most important of these reference books. The need for such tables is acutely felt by all who work in spectroscopy, and numerous requests for such a book have been received by the Commission on Spectroscopy of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. On the world book market there are fairly complete tables that cover a very great number of spectral lines and that have been complied rather carefully, although they are not free of errors. Tables of this kind are undoubtedly necessary in general spectroscopic research and must be included among the reference books of large scientific institutions. But the number of workers who need such complete tables is comparatively limited. Therefore, after long discussion it was deemed impractical to republish these tables.

At the time of its establishment in 1966, by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), the Committee on Data for Science and Technol ogy (CODATA) was given the basic mission of promoting and encouraging, on a worldwide basis, the production and distribution of compendia and of collections of critically selected numerical data on substances other forms of interest and importance to science and technology. To accomplish this aim, the following tasks were assigned to CODATA: (1) To ascertain, on a worldwide basis, what work on compilation of numerical data is being carried on in each country and under each union, and from this information, to prepare and distribute a Directory or Com pendium of the Data-Compiling Projects and Related Publications of the World; (2) To achieve coordination of existing programs and to recommend new programs; (3) To encourage, from all appropriate sources, financial support for work on compilation; (4) To encourage the use of internationally approved symbols, units, constants, terminology, and nomenclature; (5) To encourage and coordinate research on new methods for preparing and disseminating data for science and technology. In its first two years of operation, 1966 to 1968, in Washington, D. c. , U. S. A. , CODATA fortunately had as its Director Dr. GUY WADDINGTON, who was also Director of the Office of Critical Tables of the National Research Council (NRC), U. S. A. Dr.

Tables of Spectra of Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Atoms and Ions completely updates Charlotte E. Moore's energy levels and multiplet tables derived from analyses of optical spectra of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The book contains data for neutrals and for all stages of ionization. Configurations, term designations, J-values, energy levels, and ionization potentials are provided as well. The book will benefit astronomers, atomic and optical physicists, plasma physicists, and chemists.