Excitation of Atoms and Broadening of Spectral Lines povides a survey of elementary processes and mechanisms. It presents useful and relatively simple methods of approximation for calculating effective cross sections, giving a number of approximate formulas. Extensive tables list cross sections and rate coefficients for various atoms and elementary processes. The tables of cross sections were recalculated using an updated version of the computer code ATOM. Some material reflecting the recent progress in the field has been added to this new printing.

This guide to atomic spectroscopy covers the systematics of atomic spectra and radiative transitions and discusses continuous spectrum radiation, excitation of atoms and spectral line broadening. The theory of atomic structure is based on Racah techniques in angular momentum.