This book provides a comprehensive survey of modern molecular astrophysics. It includes an introduction to molecular spectroscopy and then addresses the main areas of current molecular astrophysics, including galaxy formation, star forming regions, mass loss from young as well as highly evolved stars and supernovae, starburst galaxies plus the tori and discs near the central engines of active galactic nuclei. All chapters have been written by invited authors who are acknowledged experts in their fields. The thorough editorial process has ensured a uniformly high standard of exposition and a coherent style. The book is unique in giving a detailed view of its wide-ranging subject. It will provide the standard introduction for research students in molecular astrophysics. The book will be read by research astronomers and astrophysicists who wish to broaden the basis of their knowledge or are moving their activities into this burgeoning field. It will enable chemists to learn the astrophysics most related to chemistry as well as instruct physicists about the molecular processes most important in astronomy.

This book provides a comprehensive survey of modern molecular astrophysics. It gives an introduction to molecular spectroscopy and then addresses the main areas of current molecular astrophysics, including galaxy formation, star forming regions, mass loss from young as well as highly evolved stars and supernovae, starburst galaxies plus the tori and discs near the central engines of active galactic nuclei. With chapters written by leading experts, the book is unique in giving a detailed view of this wide-ranging subject. It will provide the standard introduction for research students in molecular astrophysics; it will also enable chemists to learn the astrophysics most related to chemistry as well as instruct physicists about the molecular processes most important in astronomy.

'The book starts, very helpfully with a brief section on the basic theory of molecules and their spectra. Having digested this, the reader can then move on to any section in which he is particularly interested ... The book is well written and each section is followed by an extensive list of references for follow-up reading. It will appeal mainly to researchers who feel they need more knowledge of the importance of molecules in their field and how perhaps molecules could give a new insight or direction to their research. It also, of course, would be an excellent read for someone just starting in the field of molecular astrophysics. It is written by astronomers but the basic astronomical ideas and terminology are explained so the book might also appeal to the research chemist who has any ambitions to apply his research expertise in a larger dimension than the chemist's laboratory' Contempoary Physics