The physics of atomic inner shells has undergone significant advances in recent years. Fast computers and new experimental tools, notably syn- chrotron-radiation sources and heavy-ion accelerators, have greatly enhan- ced the scope of problems that are accessible. The level of research activity is growing substantially; added incentives are provided by the importance of inner-shell processes in such diverse areas as plasma studies, astrophysics, laser technology, biology, medicine, and materials science. The main reason for all this exciting activity in atomic inner-shell physics, to be sure,...