Harold Grad's pioneering study of thermonuclear reaction rates in electrical discharges sheds new light on the mechanisms that govern the behavior of plasmas. This influential work, originally published in 1951, presents a detailed theoretical analysis of the processes involved in fusion, and provides a foundation for further research in this important field of study.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.