Publisher's Synopsis
Until recently intramolecular motions were regarded either as completely orderly, when undergoing small amplitude vibrations, or completely chaotic, when dissociating. The immediate energy region was experimentally inaccessible but modern laser techniques have transformed the situation to the extent that we can now begin to understand the dynamical processes responsible for internal energy transfer and chemical reaction.;This volume, which reports the proceedings of a Royal Society discussion meeting held in February 1990, includes accounts of femtosecond pulse experiments, stimulated emission pumping, state-selected intramolecular vibrational relaxation and photodissociation, and stereochemical alignment studies. Definitive quantum mechanical calculations, close to and and beyond the onset of classical chaos are also reported and new ideas for the spectroscopic assignment in the classical chaotic regime are outlined.
