The Advanced Study Institute on Breakdown and Discharges in Gases was
held in Les Arcs, France, June 28 to July 10, 1981. The object of the
Institute was to provide a broad but compre- hensive presentation of the
various topics in the field of Gaseous electronics. To achieve this
goal, a number of lectures, seminars, and panel discussions were
scheduled. Each topic was developed by two tutorial and/or review
lectures, and brought to the present state of the topic by seminars and
panel discussions. The program of topics and speakers was selected with
the assistance of the advisory committee composed of: J. A. Rees,
European Coordinator, England; M. Goldman, French Coordinator, France;
A. H. Guenther, USA; M. Kristiansen, USA; and A. V. Phelps, USA. The
most memorable aspect of the Institute was the sustained high interest
of the faculty and participants for the two week period. The daily
schedule was demanding: five hours of lectures, two hours of seminars
and one of discussion. These sessions were often extended because of
presentation by the participants of im- proptu seminars. The discussions
were intense. Majestic }10nt Blanc provided the backdrop for the lecture
hall, and these surroundings and the weather contributed to the overall
positive mood. It was a wonderful occasion. The lectures and seminars
have been collected into two volumes.