Preface to second edition

Summary

In the eight years since the first edition was prepared there has continued to be a high level of activity in the field of surface science, but there has been something of a change in character of the field. In particular, the rate of introduction of new techniques has slowed, and the rate of exploitation of existing methods, especially in the application of multiple methods to single scientific problems, has grown. This consolidation of the field has been a major benefit to the authors of this technique-based book, who found that the task of updating it was less of a hurdle than we might have anticipated when the first edition was published. Nevertheless, there have been some very important developments during the intervening period, and some major new sections have been introduced. For example, the whole field of atomic-scale scanning probe microscopy (particularly scanning tunnelling microscopy) is entering into the mainstream of the surface scientist's armoury. At the time of the first edition this technique could clearly be seen to be very elegant, but the scale of its impact was difficult to judge; even now there is much to be done (particularly on the theory) for it to achieve its full potential, but it has already progressed far beyond the novelty stage.