The interaction between light and molecular matter is at the basis of a large number of fundamental and applied research areas in molecular chemistry and physics.
Concurrently advanced spectroscopic techniques are used to elucidate inter- and circumstellar chemistry, and for analytical applications.
Many of the groups working in this area are renowned for their development and application of new spectroscopic techniques. Although academic research in spectroscopy is rather widespread in The Netherlands, the photochemical and photophysical research of inorganic and organic compounds in gas and condensed phases is more and more confined to groups within the HRSMC.