During the three years since the publication of the first edition many applications of lasers in Chemistry have moved across the boundary from academic laboratories to routine instrumental analysis, laser mass spectrometry for instance. New photochemical techniques have been developed for the study of molecules, e.g. ultrafast spectroscopy. In keeping with his successfull concept, the author has retained a balance between coverage of more widely used laser methods and new developments.

1 Principles of Laser Operation.- 1.1 The Nature of Stimulated Emission.- 1.2 Resonators and Pumping Processes.- 1.3 Coherent Radiation, Standing Waves and Modes.- 1.4 The Kinetics of Laser Emission.- 1.5 Transitions, Lifetimes and Linewidths.- 1.6 Properties of Laser Light, and Their Applications.- 1. 7 Questions.- 2 Laser Sources.- 2.1 Solid-state Transition Metal Ion Lasers.- 2.2 Semiconductor Lasers.- 2.3 Atomic and Ionic Gas Lasers.- 2.4 Molecular Gas Lasers.- 2.5 Dye Lasers.- 2.6 Free-electron Laser.- 2.7 Questions.- 3 Laser Instrumentation in Chemistry.- 3.1 Polarising Optics.- 3.2 Frequency Conversion.- 3.3 Pulsing Techniques.- 3.4 Detectors.- 3.5 Pulse Detection Systems.- 3.6 Light Scattering Instrumentation.- 3.7 Polarimetry.- 3.8 Laser Detectors in Chromatography.- 3.9 Laser Microprobe Instrumentation.- 3.10 Laser Safety.- 3.11 Questions.- 4 Chemical Spectroscopy with Lasers.- 4.1 Absorption Spectroscopy.- 4.2 Specialised Absorption Techniques.- 4.3 Fluorescence Spectroscopy.- 4.4 Raman Spectroscopy.- 4.5 Specialised Raman Techniques.- 4.6 Multiphoton Spectroscopy.- 4.7 Laser Mass Spectrometry.- 4.8 References.- 4.9 Questions.- 5 Laser-Induced Chemistry.- 5.1 Principles of Laser-induced Chemistry.- 5.2 Multiphoton Infra-red Excitation.- 5.3 Laser Photochemical Processes.- 5.4 Isotope Separation.- 5.5 Miscellaneous Applications.- 5.6 References.- 5.7 Questions.- 6 Appendix 1: Listing of Output Wavelengths from Commercial Lasers.- 7 Appendix 2: Directory of Acronyms and Abbreviations.- 8 Appendix 3: Selected Bibliography.- 9 Appendix 4: Answers to Numerical Problems.- 10 Subject Index.