Applying a unified quantum approach, contributors offer fresh insights into the theoretical developments in the excitation energy transfer processes in condensed matter. This comprehensive volume examines Frenkel and Wannier excitonic processes; rates of excitonic processes; theory of laser sputter and polymer ablation; and polarons, excitonic polarons and self-trapping.

This book presents an account of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Energy Transfer Processes in Condensed Matter", held in Erice, Italy, from June 16 to June 30, 1983. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of the Institute was to present a comprehensive treatment of the basic mechanisms by which electronic excitation energy, initially localized in a particular constituent or region of a condensed material, transfers itself to the other parts of the system. Energy transfer processes are important to such varied .fields as spectroscopy, lasers, phosphor technology, artificial solar energy conversion, and photobiology. This meeting was the first encounter of this sort entirely dedicated to this important topic. A total of 65 participants came from 47 laboratories and 16 nations (Belgium, Czechoslovakia, F.R. of Germany, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of A America). The secretaries of the course were: Ms. Aliki Karipidou for the scientific aspects and Mr. Massimo Minella for the admini strative aspects of the meeting.

This book describes advances in both experimental and theoretical treatments in the field of energy transfer processes that are relevant to various fields, such as spectroscopy, laser technology, phosphors, artificial solar energy conversion, and photobiology. It presents the principles and available techniques through specific examples. In addition, it examines current and possible applications, including the most recent developments, and projects future advances and research possibilities in the field.

This book describes advances in both experimental and theoretical treatments in the field of energy transfer processes that are relevant to various fields, such as spectroscopy, laser technology, phosphors, artificial solar energy conversion, and photobiology. It presents the principles and available techniques through specific examples. In addition, it examines current and possible applications, including the most recent developments, and projects future advances and research possibilities in the field. Contents: Fundamental Interactions Leading to Energy Transfer (B Di Bartolo); Energy Transfer Processes in Atoms and Molecules (W DemtrAder et al.); Advances in the Techniques for the Study of Energy Transfer (D Hulin); Upconversion Phenomena with Laser Applications (X Chen); New Applications of Ultrafast Spectroscopy (J M Hvam); Efficient Solid State Lasers (N P Barnes); Emission Efficiency and Energy Transfer in Color Centers at High Concentrations (G Baldacchini); Four-Wave Mixing Studies of Energy Transfer Processes (G Boulon); Upconventional Light Emissions in Rare-Earth Doped Solids (F Auzel); Photonic Molecular and Supramolecular Devices (J M Lehn); Reflections on the Theory of Everything (G Costa); Earthquakes, Measurements, and Mitigation of Seismic Risk (R Console); Site Selectivity of Defects in IIIOCoV Compounds by Local Mode Spectroscopy and Model Calculations (D N Talwar); The General Non-Radiative Energy Transfer Master Equations for Crystalline Materials, the Exact Solution and Current Modeling (L A D az-Torres et al.); and other papers. Readership: Researchers and graduate students in the fields of lasers and optics."

This book presents an account of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on "Energy Transfer Processes in Condensed Matter", held in Erice, Italy, from June 16 to June 30, 1983. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of the Institute was to present a comprehensive treatment of the basic mechanisms by which electronic excitation energy, initially localized in a particular constituent or region of a condensed material, transfers itself to the other parts of the system. Energy transfer processes are important to such varied .fields as spectroscopy, lasers, phosphor technology, artificial solar energy conversion, and photobiology. This meeting was the first encounter of this sort entirely dedicated to this important topic. A total of 65 participants came from 47 laboratories and 16 nations (Belgium, Czechoslovakia, F.R. of Germany, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of A America). The secretaries of the course were: Ms. Aliki Karipidou for the scientific aspects and Mr. Massimo Minella for the admini strative aspects of the meeting.

The field of non-crystalline materials has seen the emergence of many challeng ing problems during its long history. In recent years, the interest in polymeric and biological disordered matter has stimulated new activities which in turn have enlarged the organic and inorganic glass community. The current research fields and recent progress have extended our knowledge of the rich phenomenol ogy of glassy systems, where the role of disorder is fundamental for the underlying microscopic dynamics. In addition, despite the lack of a unified theory, many interesting theoretical models have recently evolved. The present volume offers the reader a collection of topics representing the current state in the understanding of disorder effects as well as a survey of the basic problems and phenomena involved. The task of compiling a book devoted to disordered systems has benefited much from a seminar organized by the W.-E. Heraeus Foundation in Bad Honnef in April 1992, where we had the opportunity to discuss the project with most of the authors. Here we wish to thank the Heraeus Foundation for their support, and the authors and Springer-Verlag, especially Dr. Marion Hertel, for the pleasant cooperation.

This is the first book to specifically focus on semiconductor nanocrystals, and address their synthesis and assembly, optical properties and spectroscopy, and potential areas of nanocrystal-based devices. The enormous potential of nanoscience to impact on industrial output is now clear. Over the next two decades, much of the science will transfer into new products and processes. One emerging area where this challenge will be very successfully met is the field of semiconductor nanocrystals. Also known as colloidal quantum dots, their unique properties have attracted much attention in the last twenty years.