Spectroscopy: Past and present

Abstract

We present a review of historical methods in spectroscopy culminating in modern techniques made available by the advent of laser technology. Spectroscopy is undergoing a worldwide renaissance as a result of these methods which point to entire new fields of application. Special examples are given, such as mass spectrometry, very high resolution methods, photoelectron spectroscopy and ZEKE spectroscopy as well as modern ultrafast techniques.