This volume contains the lectures and seminars on Coronas, Gas Discharges, Diagnostics, Plasma Chemistry, and Applications presented at the Advanced Study Institute on Breakdown and Discharges in Gases. The Institute was held in Les Arcs, France, during June 28 to July 10, 1981. The first volume has been devoted to the areas of Basic Discharge Processes, Kinetic Theory and Gas Break­ down. This collection is both tutorial and representative of the state of the field. We hope it will be useful both to beginners and experienced researchers. We are grateful to a number of organizations for providing financial assistance. The Scientific Affiars Division of NATO provided the major contribution for the Institute. The Office of Naval Research, the Naval Surface Weapons Center at Dahlgren, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Air Force Weapons Laboratory provided additional support. The National Science Foun­ dation financed the travel of one student. We would like to acknowledge the many people who helped us organize and carry the Institute to its successful completion.