The Physical Chemistry Cluster (PCC), located in the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands is a cooperative entity which directs a wide range of in-depth research. Extensive collaboration within the PCC offers a broad base of expertise to every participant. The PCC is situated in the inspiring environment of the Van't Hoff Laboratory, named for the Dutch chemist who received the first Nobel prize awarded for chemistry in 1901 for his research on valence-directions and stereochemistry of the carbon atom.

The PCC is composed of a number of different bodies, with the Department of Physical Chemistry serving as the pivot point. Figure 1 shows a diagram of the PCC organization which includes the University of Amsterdam (UvA); the foundation, Chemical Research Netherlands (SON); Institute of Mass Spectrometry (IMS); the Interaction of Matter with Photons group (IMF); Faculty of Physics (UvA); Laser Application and Information Center Amsterdam (LAICA); the LAICA Laser Technology Ventures, Ltd.; and the Laser Lease Center.

The Physical Chemistry Cluster finds its roots at the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of the University of Amsterdam. The Laboratory for Physical Chemistry has an academie staff of about 18 members who cooperate with the faculty of physics of the University of Amsterdam. PCC research activities cover a broad field of physical chemistry. Here, researchers study the interaction of matter and photons to obtain information on spectroscopic properties and dynamics of excited states of isolated or clustered molecules in the gas or condensed phase.