This series of books, which is published at the rate of about one per year, addressesfundamental problems in materials science. The contents cover a broad range of topicsfrom small clusters of atoms to engineering materials and involve chemistry, physics, andengineering, with length scales ranging from Ångstroms up to millimeters. The emphasis ison basic science rather than on applications. Each book focuses on a single area of current interest and brings together leading experts to give an up-to-date discussion of their work and the work of others. Each article contains enough references that the interested reader can access the relevant literature. Thanks are given to the Center for Fundamental Materials Research at Michigan State University for supporting this series.