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Raman Spectroscopy
152
The inclusion of ‘Biochemistry’ in the title is totally misleading. No attempt is made to deal with any aspect of intermediary metabolism, enzyme mechanism or kinetics, protein function, membrane structure or function, muscle contraction, nutrition, metabolic regulation, hormones or the immune response. The treatment given to protein and enzyme structure is limited. The author concentrates entirely on the storage, transmission and expression of biological information, i.e., nucleic acid structure and synthesis, mutation and repair, protein synthesis, phages and microbial genetics. However, within this limited but highly important area, the author succeeds in bringing together a well-chosen set of valuable, interesting and often challenging problems. The volume should prove useful to teachers of molecular biology and genetics and students alike. J. C. A. Raman Spectroscopy, by D. A. Long, McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead, 1977, pp. xiii + 276, price $14.40.
Gt. Britain,
Since lasers became readily available, Raman spectroscopy has become an extremely popular field. This renaissance has been accompanied by the production of many new books to which this volume is a distinguished addition. The best authors are those who have learned something of their craft before putting pen to paper. This is certainly true of Professor D. A. Long, who commenced his scientific research career under the aegis of the British doyen of Raman spectroscopy, L. A. Woodward. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the nature and origin of the Raman effect and its relation to infrared spectroscopy. The following two chapters deal with the classical theories of electromagnetic radiation, and Rayleigh and Raman scattering. Chapter 4 contains a semi-quantum-mechanical theory of Rayleigh and Raman scattering and Chapter 5 goes on to consider time-dependent perturbation theory. Chapter 6 considers briefly the components of equipment necessary for the observation of Raman spectra sources of monochromatic radiation, sample devices, dispersing systems and detection devices. Chapter 7 deals with the widespread applications of Raman spectroscopy in the chemical, physical, biological and medical sciences. The final chapter deals with non-linear Raman effects including the hyper Raman effect, stimulated Raman effect, inverse Raman effect and CARS. The author hits two bulls-eyes. The basics of the Raman effect are clearly dealt with - a boon for beginners. In addition, the book provides an up-todate survey of the field of Raman spectroscopy; it unifies the basic theory, illustrates applications and indicates new potential uses, and guides the reader towards specialist literature. It will prove useful to a wide variety of people. W. J. O.-T.
The inclusion of ‘Biochemistry’ in the title is totally misleading. No attempt is made to deal with any aspect of intermediary metabolism, enzyme mechanism or kinetics, protein function, membrane structure or function, muscle contraction, nutrition, metabolic regulation, hormones or the immune response. The treatment given to protein and enzyme structure is limited. The author concentrates entirely on the storage, transmission and expression of biological information, i.e., nucleic acid structure and synthesis, mutation and repair, protein synthesis, phages and microbial genetics. However, within this limited but highly important area, the author succeeds in bringing together a well-chosen set of valuable, interesting and often challenging problems. The volume should prove useful to teachers of molecular biology and genetics and students alike. J. C. A. Raman Spectroscopy, by D. A. Long, McGraw-Hill, Maidenhead, 1977, pp. xiii + 276, price $14.40.
Gt. Britain,
Since lasers became readily available, Raman spectroscopy has become an extremely popular field. This renaissance has been accompanied by the production of many new books to which this volume is a distinguished addition. The best authors are those who have learned something of their craft before putting pen to paper. This is certainly true of Professor D. A. Long, who commenced his scientific research career under the aegis of the British doyen of Raman spectroscopy, L. A. Woodward. The first chapter serves as an introduction to the nature and origin of the Raman effect and its relation to infrared spectroscopy. The following two chapters deal with the classical theories of electromagnetic radiation, and Rayleigh and Raman scattering. Chapter 4 contains a semi-quantum-mechanical theory of Rayleigh and Raman scattering and Chapter 5 goes on to consider time-dependent perturbation theory. Chapter 6 considers briefly the components of equipment necessary for the observation of Raman spectra sources of monochromatic radiation, sample devices, dispersing systems and detection devices. Chapter 7 deals with the widespread applications of Raman spectroscopy in the chemical, physical, biological and medical sciences. The final chapter deals with non-linear Raman effects including the hyper Raman effect, stimulated Raman effect, inverse Raman effect and CARS. The author hits two bulls-eyes. The basics of the Raman effect are clearly dealt with - a boon for beginners. In addition, the book provides an up-todate survey of the field of Raman spectroscopy; it unifies the basic theory, illustrates applications and indicates new potential uses, and guides the reader towards specialist literature. It will prove useful to a wide variety of people. W. J. O.-T.