Spectroscopic methods have opened up a new horizon in our knweledge about solid-state materials. Numerous techniques using electromagnetic radiation or charged and neutral particles have been invented and worked out to a high level in order to provide more detailed information on the solids. In this text, new radiation sources like lasers and synchrotrons are discussed. It prvides a description of the linear response together with the basic principles and the technical background for various scattering experiments. Fourier transform spectroscopy, pulsed and magnetic NMR tecniques, photo-emission, and light and electron scattering are elucidated. Each chapter includes problems. The concept of this textbook is designed for graduate students.

This text is an introductory compilation of basic concepts, methods and applications in the field of spectroscopy. It discusses new radiation sources such as lasers and synchrotrons and describes the linear response together with the basic principles and the technical background for various scattering experiments.

1 Introduction.- 2 Electromagnetic Radiation.- 3 Light Sources with General Application.- 4 Spectral Analysis of Light.- 5 Detection of Electromagnetic Radiation.- 6 The Dielectric Function.- 7 Spectroscopy in the Visible and Near-Visible Spectral Range.- 8 Symmetry and Selection Rules.- 9 Light-Scattering Spectroscopy.- 10 Infrared Spectroscopy.- 11 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.- 12 Ultraviolet and X-Ray Spectroscopy.- 13 Spectroscopy with ? Rays.- 14 Generalized Dielectric Function.- 15 Spectroscopy with Electrons.- 16 Spectroscopy with Positrons and Muons.- 17 Neutron Scattering.- 18 Spectroscopy with Atoms and Ions.- A To Chapter 1, Introduction.- B To Chapter 2, Electromagnetic Radiation.- C To Chapter 3, Light Sources with General Application.- D To Chapter 4, Spectral Analysis of Light.- E To Chapter 6, The Dielectric Function.- F To Chapter 7, Spectroscopy in the Visible and Near-Visible Spectral Range.- G To Chapter 8, Symmetry and Selection Rules.- H To Chapter 9, Light-Scattering Spectroscopy.- I To Chapter 10, Infrared Spectroscopy.- J To Chapter 11, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.- K To Chapter 13, Spectroscopy with ? Rays.- L To Chapter 14, Generalized Dielectric Function.- M To Chapter 17, Neutron Scattering.- References.