Interaction processes with creation of fast electrons in the low temperature plasma

The methods and the results of investigations of the reactions in which electrons appear with energies surpassing the average electron distribution's energy in a plasma are considered. Particular attention is paid to the plasma electron spectroscopy method, which combines the advantages of the elementary processes examination in a plasma with the possibilities of conventional electron spectroscopy. Data of the study of chemiionization reactions involving two excited rare gas atoms, Penning ionizations of atoms and molecules by the helium metastable atoms and quenching of excited inert gases and mercury atoms by the electrons are given. The influence of the processes of creating fast electrons on the plasma properties is discussed.