Kinetics of electrons moving in a gas or a plasma under the action of external fields is considered. Elementary processes of elastic and inelastic electron-atom collisions responsible for electron kinetics in weakly ionized atomic gases are analyzed. Various regimes of evolution of electrons in a gas or a plasma in external fields are considered, and the character of atom excitations under these conditions is studied. Methods of describing the electron kinetics in gases and plasma are applied to modeling the electron drift in condensed systems. It is shown that the electric properties of metals and the behavior of an excess electron in dielectrics have common features with electron drift in gases and plasmas. The drift of an excess electron in condensed inert gases is reviewed.

PACS: 51.50.+v, 52.25.Fi, 72.15.−v (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU2002v045n12ABEH001202 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2002/12/c/ 000182061800003 Citation: Smirnov B M "Kinetics of electrons in gases and condensed systems" Phys. Usp. 45 1251–1286 (2002) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Смирнов Б М «Кинетика электронов в газах и конденсированных системах» УФН 172 1411–1447 (2002); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0172.200212c.1411