Overview of Molecular Spectroscopy Techniques

Abstract

Spectroscopy using electromagnetic radiation in all wavelength regions, in the radiofrequency range, with microwaves, in the infrared, in the visible spectral region and in the ultraviolet region, extending out to the spectral region of extremely short-wavelength gamma radiation, is the most important source of experimental information for molecular physics. In this and the following chapters, we shall deal with this topic. The experimental methods associated with these spectroscopies will be described in more detail where necessary. In this chapter, in Sects. 8.1 and 8.2, we first give the classification of the spectroscopic methods according to the spectral region studied, as required to obtain the desired information. This will serve as an introduction to the following Chaps. 9--14. In Sect. 8.3, we then indicate some additional methods, namely laser spectroscopy, photoelectron spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance, which are treated in the later Chaps. 15, 18, and 19.