This is the third, enlarged, and updated edition of our book. From about 1400
entries in the first edition we have now reached to more than 2300 terms and
definitions. Moreover, a large number of the previous entries have been improved
or extended. The gallery of illustrations has been enriched by new figures, and
new tables are added throughout the book. The presented terms, phenomena,
regulations, and experimental and theoretical tools are very easy to consult since
they are arranged in alphabetical order, with a chapter for each letter. The great
majority of the terms have additional information in the form of notes such as
‘‘First described in: ...’’, ‘‘More details in ...’’, and ‘‘Recognition: ...”, thus giving a
historical retrospective of the subject with references to further sources of extended
information, which can be pioneering papers, books, review papers, or web sites