Molecular Astrophysics: State of the Art and Future Directions(157 Nato Science Series C:)

and In the IAU Symposium of 1979 devoted to interstellar molecules [8]. Excellent relevant monographs [ 9. 10] . related timely proceedings [ 11] . and recently published elementary textbooks [12. 13] further help to define the pedagogical scope of molecular astrophysics. A significant financial investment has been made in the establishment of ground- and satellite-based observationai facilities for molecuiar astrophysical studies. In the coming years. a wealth of experimental data is bound to accumulate. in which connection close interactions between observers. astrophysical modeliers. and molecular physicists and chemists can play a helpful role in analysis and interpretation. In view of the increasing pace of activity in the field of molecular astrophysics. and in the apparent absence of relevant international meetings since the Liege 1977 and IAU 1979 Symposia. it was deemed appropriate and timely by the organizers to hold a workshop in 1984. Consequently. the NATO Advanced Research Workshop. "Molecular Astrophysics State of the Art and Future Directions". was organized and held at Bad Wlndshelm. West Germany. from 8 to 14 July 1984. The choice of speakers and subject matter of the Workshop was largely subjective. but designed to include most of the generally accepted areas of molecular astrophysical study. Workers from the fields of radio. infrared. and uv-optlcal observations. astrophysical modelling. laboratory spectroscopy. reaction chemistry. collision physics. and theoretical molecular physics and chemistry. were Invited to present survey lectures In their areas of speciality. In addition.

Table of Contents:
I. Astrophysical Observations and Models.- Molecular Astrophysics.- Chemical Composition and Molecular Abundances of Molecular Clouds.- Radio Observations of Interstellar Molecules.- Sub-Millimeter Astronomy and Astrophysics.- Infrared Spectroscopy of Interstellar Molecules.- Visible and Ultraviolet Studies of Interstellar Molecules.- The Production of Complex Molecules in Dense Interstellar Clouds.- Chemical Reactions in Diffuse Clouds and the Chemistry of Isotope Fractionation in the Interstellar Gas.- The Chemistry of Shocked Regions of the Interstellar Gas.- Theoretical Models of Shock Waves in Molecular Clouds.- Cometary Comae.- Molecular Spectra of the Outer Planets and Satellites.- II. Theoretical and Experimental Laboratory Studies.- Molecular Ions in Astrophysics and in the Laboratory.- Millimeter and Sub-Millimeter Wave Spectroscopy in the Laboratory and in the Interstellar Medium.- Studies of Astrophysically Important Molecular Ions with Ultrasensitive Infrared Laser Techniques.- Time Resolved Properties of Small Astrophysical Molecules.- Rotational Excitation in Molecular Beam Experiments.- Ion-Molecule Reactions at Low Temperatures.- Ion-Molecule Reactions in Interstellar Molecular Clouds.- Theoretical Predictions of the Infrared and Microwave Spectra of Small Molecules.- Recent Theoretical Results of Rotational-Translational Energy Transfer.- Rotational and Vibrational Energy Transfer in Diatomic and Polyatomic Molecules.- Calculation of Radiative Lifetimes of Allowed and Forbidden Transitions.- Molecular Photoionization Processes of Astrophysical and Aeronomical Interest.- Dissociative Recombination of Interstellar Ions: Electronic Structure Calculations for HCO+.- Contributed Papers.- Detection of Interstellar Rotationally Excited CH.- Interstellar Clouds: From a Dynamical Perspective on their Chemistry.- Models of Galactic Molecular Sources.- Millimeter Wave Spectroscopy of Transient Species in RF and DC Discharges.- Photofragment Spectroscopy of Interstellar Molecules.- Measurements of Ion-Molecule Reaction Rate Coefficients between 8 and 160 K by the Cresu Technique.- Measurements of Ion-Molecule Reaction Rate Coefficients with an Ion-Drift-Tube Method at Temperatures from 18 to 420 K.- Laboratory Studies of Ion Reactions with Atomic Hydrogen.- Dissociative Recombination of H3+, HCO+. N2H+, and CH5+.- Molecular Dissociation Functions Obtained from Thermodynamic and Spectroscopic Data.- A Theoretical Study of H2O Masers.- The Excitation of Interstellar C2.- Photodissociation Processes in the OH and HC? Molecules.- Low Temperature Rosseland Mean Opacities for Zero-Metal Gas Mixtures.- Contributed Oral Presentations.- A High-Sensitivity Spectral Survey of Orion A in the 1.3 MM Region.- The Importance of Neutral-Neutral Reactions in the Chemistry of CN in Diffuse Clouds.- Long Chain Molecules in Interstellar Clouds.- Desorption of Molecules from Interstellar Grains.- Molecular Mantles on Interstellar Grains.- Electron Capture by Multiply Charged Ions: Population of Excited States.- Photoabsorption and Photodissociation of CO in the 900–1200 A Region.- Photodissociation of H2O in the First Absorption Band in the VUV as the Pumpmechanism of the Astronomical OH-Maser.- Laser Spectroscopy on Small Molecules of Astrophysical Interest in the Vacuum UV.- Experimental Measurements of the Branching Ratio for Dissociative Recombination Processes.- Astrophysically Important Charge Transfer Reactions: Recent Theoretical Results.- Potential Surface of C2-H2.- Theoretical Predictions of Atomic and Molecular Properties for theConstruction of Empirical Scattering Potentials.- Rovibrational Excitation of 12C16O by H2.- List of Participants.- Molecule Index.

Review :
'...the book provides an excellent survey of the state of the art in 1984. ...deserves a wide circulation, and will remain a useful reference for some years. If molecular astrophysics impinges on your work make sure that you have access to a copy.' The Observatory (August 1986)