Names, symbols, definitions and units of quantities in optical spectroscopy (Recommendations 1984)

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part A: Molecular spectroscopy 1987, Vol.43 (1), p.1-9
• Main Authors: Sheppard, N., Willis, H.A., Rigg, J.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0584-8539
• DOI: 10.1016/0584-8539(87)80192-7

This document gives definitions and recommended names and symbols for the quantities used in the practice of optical spectroscopy (ultraviolet, visible and infrared). An earlier document prepared by our two Commissions (I.5 and VII.2) was entitled “Quantities and units in clinical chemistry. Optical spectroscopy Part 1. Theoretical outline and general quantities (provisional recommendations)”, IUPAC Information Bulletin 1978, No. 3, pp. 241–259. That document was fully comprehensive, and it was considered that for easy reference a shorter and simplified version would be welcomed. The arrangement follows that of the provisional document. After a general introduction explaining the recommendations, the major part of the document is a series of sections, each devoted to one of 17 widely used quantities in molecular spectroscopy. For each quantity there is a definition, a symbol, dimensions and name and symbol of the coherent unit in the SI system. The commonly used multiples of the coherent SI unit are listed together with the corresponding symbols. Alongside are given the commonly used non-SI units which are intended for use when reading older literature. Each section gives common synonyms and other symbols which have been used for the quantity being described, and the choice recommended is justified. Remarks are also given, where appropriate, on the interrelation of symbols. The recommendations conclude with a summary list of the quantities described with symbols, SI units and dimensions, and a bibliography of documents referred to in the text.