Spectra of Atoms and Molecules, the fifth edition of Peter F. Bernath's popular textbook, provides advanced undergraduates and graduate students with a working knowledge of the field of spectroscopy. This volume illuminates fundamental principles of spectroscopy for chemists, physicists, astronomers, atmospheric scientists, and engineers, with the primary goal of teaching the interpretation of spectra.

Highlights include an entirely new chapter on the spectroscopy of clouds and aerosols, as well as the presentation of group theory as needed to understand spectroscopy. Responding to reader requests, each chapter includes detailed worked examples, plus numerous challenging problems allowing the reader to work with actual experimental data and spectra. Bernath provides many diagrams and spectra which have been specifically recorded for this book.

Topics include molecular symmetry, matrix representation of groups, quantum mechanics, and group theory. Atomic, rotational, vibrational, electronic and Raman spectra are analyzed as well. This edition clears up the confusing topic of line strengths as needed for quantitative applications. Spectra of Atoms and Molecules demystifies spectroscopy by showing readers derivations step-by-step to the final result.