The last decade has witnessed significant advances in the ability to
generate short light pulses throughout the optical spectrum. These
developments have had a tremendous impact on the field of chemical
dynamics. Fundamental questions concerning chemical reactions, once
thought to be unaddressable, are now easily studied in real-time
experiments. Ultrafast spectroscopies are currently being used to study
a variety of fundamental chemical phenomena. This book focuses on some
of the experimental and associated theoretical studies of reactions in
clusters, liquid and solid media. Many of the advances in our
understanding of the fundamental details of chemical reactivity result
from the interplay of experiment and theory. This theme is present in
many of the chapters, indicating the pervasiveness of a combined
approach for eludicating molecular models of chemical reactions. With
parallel developments in computer simulation, complex chemical sys- tems
are being studied at a molecular level. The discussions presented in
this book recount many areas at the forefront of "ultrafast chemistry".
They serve the purpose of both bringing the expert up to date with the
work being done in many laboratories as well as introducing those not
directly involved in this field to the diverse set of problems that can
be studied. I hope that this book conveys the excitement that both I and
the other authors in this volume feel about the field of ultrafast
chemistry. John D. Simon 1993 1.D. Simon (ed.), Ultrafast Dynamics of
Chemical Systems, vii.