Book excerpt: Designed to serve as a textbook for postgraduate students of physics and chemistry, this second edition improves the clarity of treatment, extends the range of topics, and includes more worked examples with a view to providing all the material needed for a course in molecular spectroscopy—from first principles to the very useful spectral data that comprise figures, charts and tables. To improve the conceptual appreciation and to help students develop more positive and realistic impressions of spectroscopy, there are two new chapters—one on the spectra of atoms and the other on laser spectroscopy. The chapter on the spectra of atoms is a detailed account of the basic principles involved in molecular spectroscopy. The chapter on laser spectroscopy covers some new experimental techniques for the investigation of the structure of atoms and molecules. Additional sections on interstellar molecules, inversion vibration of ammonia molecule, fibre-coupled Raman spectrometer, Raman microscope, supersonic beams and jet-cooling have also been included. Besides worked-out examples, an abundance of review questions, and end-of-chapter problems with answers are included to aid students in testing their knowledge of the material contained in each chapter. Solutions manual containing the complete worked-out solutions to chapter-end problems is available for instructors.