Applications of Laser Spectroscopy

The laser has become an important tool for studying elementary chemical processes and for analytical applications, while the use of lasers to initiate chemical reactions by selective excitation of reactants is still very much in its infancy and the awaited breakthrough has not yet occurred. It may be that recent developments in laser technology, e.g. excimer lasers will change the whole picture, and that applications in chemistry such as laser-induced chemical reactions or synthesis will come close to reality.