A guided tour through modern charge density analysis

A concise summary is provided on the basic aspects of charge density (CD) analysis and an overview of the charge density research and developments over the last 10 years. A glimpse is given to the issues which are treated in more details in the remaining chapters of this book and to those few that, although of some importance, could not be covered. Advances in experimental methodologies and in the charge density model refinements, along with progresses in quantum mechanical methods and in the interpretation/understanding of chemical bonding and interactions are briefly summarized. The increasingly stronger connection between charge density research and challenging questions of relevance to chemistry and to materials and life science is overviewed