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Elementary Polarization Spectroscopy
512
Traditionally, the volume starts with a comprehensive list of books and reviews (compiled by G.A. Webb) published mostly in English but also in other languages during the period reviewed. The impressive number of titles (588, including 569 reviews) demonstrates the explosive growth of interest in modern NMR among chemists, biologists and many other specialists. The thirteen annual reports continue topics familiar from the previous volumes: Theoretical and Physical Aspects of Nuclear Shielding (C.J. Jameson); Application of Nuclear Shielding (M.J. Foster); Theoretical Aspects of Spin-Spin Couplings (J. Oddershede); Applications of Spin-Spin Couplings (June 1986-May 1988, J.C. Lindon and J.M. Williams); Nuclear Spin Relaxation in Liquids and Gases (H. Weingaertner); Solid State NMR. (R. Dupree); Multiple Pulse NMR. (L.Y. Lian); Natural Macromolecules (D.B. Davies and H.G. Parkes); Synthetic Macromolecules (F. Heatley); Conformational Analysis (C. Jones); Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Living Systems (P.G. Morris); N.M.R. of Paramagnetic Species (K.G. Orrell); NMR of Liquid Crystals and Micellar Solutions (June 1986-May 1988, Ali Khan). Thus, the structure of the reports remains traditional in the good sense of the word, but modern trends and increased activity in some areas are also reflected. It is fortunate that the well-prepared report on multiple pulse NMR is now on time (the previous report covered three years). Thus, almost up-todate information on some very attractive and rapidly developing topics in this area (as inverse spectroscopy) is available. Concerning the report on conformational analysis, this reviewer prefers the format of previous volumes: now the so-called “small organic molecules” are treated too briefly (about one page only), whereas much of the material on biological molecules (peptides, proteins, nucleotides, carbohydrates) overlaps with that presented in the report on natural macromolecules. Concerning the technical quality of the book, pages 361-392 in the reviewer’s copy are missing whereas the following 32 pages are duplicated, let us hope that it is an exceptional case. By and large, Volume 18 continues the high standards set by the previous volumes of this series and can be recommended to interested persons. S.L.S. Elementary Polarization Spectroscopy, by Erik W. Thulstrup and Josef Michl; VCH Publishers, New York, 1989, pp. vii + 167, price DM 78.00. This book provides a basic introduction to the theoretical and experimental methods used in optical spectroscopy of partially aligned samples. A more detailed and comprehensive account is provided by the authors’ earlier monograph “Spectroscopy with Polarized Light: Solute Alignment by Photoselection, in Liquid Crystals, Polymers and Membranes” (VCH Publishers, 1986).
The introductory chapter deals with the basic concepts of polarized light, molecular states and symmetry, and the interpretation of transition moments. The second chapter describes simple experimental techniques suitable for achieving partial molecular alignment and performing the optical measurements. Chapter 3 provides an analysis of polarized absorption measurements and describes ways in which information on molecular transition moments and the average alignment of solutes in uniaxial samples can be extracted from dichroic spectra. The final chapter covers fluorescence polarization, both on isotropic and uniaxially aligned assemblies of non-rotating molecules. Three appendices give an elementary introduction to group theory, character tables and a list of direct products of irreducible representations. Specific examples, taken from a wide range of applications in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics and polymer science, are used throughout the text to illustrate the material presented. The subject matter is presented with great clarity, assisted by numerous illustrations, and the book should become the standard introductory text on polarization spectroscopy. A.J.B.
Traditionally, the volume starts with a comprehensive list of books and reviews (compiled by G.A. Webb) published mostly in English but also in other languages during the period reviewed. The impressive number of titles (588, including 569 reviews) demonstrates the explosive growth of interest in modern NMR among chemists, biologists and many other specialists. The thirteen annual reports continue topics familiar from the previous volumes: Theoretical and Physical Aspects of Nuclear Shielding (C.J. Jameson); Application of Nuclear Shielding (M.J. Foster); Theoretical Aspects of Spin-Spin Couplings (J. Oddershede); Applications of Spin-Spin Couplings (June 1986-May 1988, J.C. Lindon and J.M. Williams); Nuclear Spin Relaxation in Liquids and Gases (H. Weingaertner); Solid State NMR. (R. Dupree); Multiple Pulse NMR. (L.Y. Lian); Natural Macromolecules (D.B. Davies and H.G. Parkes); Synthetic Macromolecules (F. Heatley); Conformational Analysis (C. Jones); Nuclear Magnetic Resonance of Living Systems (P.G. Morris); N.M.R. of Paramagnetic Species (K.G. Orrell); NMR of Liquid Crystals and Micellar Solutions (June 1986-May 1988, Ali Khan). Thus, the structure of the reports remains traditional in the good sense of the word, but modern trends and increased activity in some areas are also reflected. It is fortunate that the well-prepared report on multiple pulse NMR is now on time (the previous report covered three years). Thus, almost up-todate information on some very attractive and rapidly developing topics in this area (as inverse spectroscopy) is available. Concerning the report on conformational analysis, this reviewer prefers the format of previous volumes: now the so-called “small organic molecules” are treated too briefly (about one page only), whereas much of the material on biological molecules (peptides, proteins, nucleotides, carbohydrates) overlaps with that presented in the report on natural macromolecules. Concerning the technical quality of the book, pages 361-392 in the reviewer’s copy are missing whereas the following 32 pages are duplicated, let us hope that it is an exceptional case. By and large, Volume 18 continues the high standards set by the previous volumes of this series and can be recommended to interested persons. S.L.S. Elementary Polarization Spectroscopy, by Erik W. Thulstrup and Josef Michl; VCH Publishers, New York, 1989, pp. vii + 167, price DM 78.00. This book provides a basic introduction to the theoretical and experimental methods used in optical spectroscopy of partially aligned samples. A more detailed and comprehensive account is provided by the authors’ earlier monograph “Spectroscopy with Polarized Light: Solute Alignment by Photoselection, in Liquid Crystals, Polymers and Membranes” (VCH Publishers, 1986).
The introductory chapter deals with the basic concepts of polarized light, molecular states and symmetry, and the interpretation of transition moments. The second chapter describes simple experimental techniques suitable for achieving partial molecular alignment and performing the optical measurements. Chapter 3 provides an analysis of polarized absorption measurements and describes ways in which information on molecular transition moments and the average alignment of solutes in uniaxial samples can be extracted from dichroic spectra. The final chapter covers fluorescence polarization, both on isotropic and uniaxially aligned assemblies of non-rotating molecules. Three appendices give an elementary introduction to group theory, character tables and a list of direct products of irreducible representations. Specific examples, taken from a wide range of applications in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics and polymer science, are used throughout the text to illustrate the material presented. The subject matter is presented with great clarity, assisted by numerous illustrations, and the book should become the standard introductory text on polarization spectroscopy. A.J.B.