This conference on both the physics and chemistry of laser-induced processes in molecules was organized by the Quantum Electronics Divisional Board of the European Physical Society whose membership is given on p.367. The confer- ence aim, to mix physicists and chemists interested in this exciting field both from Europe and further afield, was well fulfilled by the attendance of around 250 participants and the submission of about 100 papers, which dre presented here. Numerous people at both the Physics Department, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and at the Projektgruppe fUr Laserforschung,...

Lasers and chemical change is the study of radiation and molecules in dis equilibrium. The distinguishing feature of such systems is the extreme de parture from thermal equilibrium: the radiation is usually confined to a narrow frequency range, is well coll imated, and is far brighter than black body radiation; the chemical composition and also the distribution of mole cules over their different energy states are often markedly displaced from that expected at equilibrium. Such systems can be used as a source of laser radiation and, reversedly, lasers can rapidly and selectively displace mole...