Emphasis is placed on the analysis of translational, rotational, vibrational and electronically excited state kinetics, coupled to the electron Boltzmann equation.

This book describes the coupling between elementary processes, plasma kinetics and electrodynamics in different types of electrical discharges and under non-equilibrium conditions. Analytical methods based on rigorous kinetic theory are developed to interpret the results obtained by numerical methods. Particular emphasis is placed on the kinetics of non-equilibrium N2, O2 and N2-02 plasmas as well as on conditions relevant to atmospheric physics, reentry problems and acoustic and shock waves in non-equilibrium atmospheric gases.