Concepts and Methods in Modern Theoretical Chemistry : Electronic Structure and Reactivity

Concepts and Methods in Modern Theoretical Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Reactivity, the first book in a two-volume set, focuses on the structure and reactivity of systems and phenomena. A new addition to the series Atoms, Molecules, and Clusters, this book offers chapters written by experts in their fields. It enables readers to learn how concepts from ab initio quantum chemistry and density functional theory (DFT) can be used to describe, understand, and predict electronic structure and chemical reactivity.

This book covers a wide range of subjects, including discussions on the following topics:

• DFT, particularly the functional and conceptual aspects



• Excited states, molecular electrostatic potentials, and intermolecular interactions



• General theoretical aspects and application to molecules



• Clusters and solids, electronic stress, and electron affinity difference



• The information theory and the virial theorem



• New periodic tables



• The role of the ionization potential

Although most of the chapters are written at a level that is accessible to a senior graduate student, experienced researchers will also find interesting new insights in these experts’ perspectives. This comprehensive book provides an invaluable resource toward understanding the whole gamut of atoms, molecules, and clusters.

Swapan Kumar Ghosh earned a B.S. (Honors) and an M.S. from the University of Burdwan, Bardhaman, India, and a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He did postdoctoral research at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Ghosh is currently a senior scientist with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, India, and head of its theoretical chemistry section. He is also a senior professor and dean-academic (Chemical Sciences, BARC) of the Homi Bhabha National Institute, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), India, and an adjunct professor with the University of Mumbai–DAE Centre of Excellence in Basic Sciences, India. Dr. Ghosh’s research interests are theoretical chemistry, computational materials science, and soft condensed matter physics.

Pratim Kumar Chattaraj earned a B.S. (Honors) and an M.S. from Burdwan University and a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, and then joined the faculty of the IIT, Kharagpur. He is now a professor with the Department of Chemistry and also the convener of the Center for Theoretical Studies there. He visited the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, as a postdoctoral research associate and several other universities throughout the world as a visiting professor. Apart from teaching, Professor Chattaraj is involved in research on density functional theory, the theory of chemical reactivity, aromaticity in metal clusters, ab initio calculations, quantum trajectories, and nonlinear dynamics. He has been invited to deliver special lectures at several international conferences and to contribute chapters to many edited volumes.