This book is devoted to the systematic treatment of nonequi 1 ibrium vibrational kinetics in molecular systems. Particular emphasis is given to the vibrational excitation of diatomic molecules by low-energy electrons in a discharge and by IR photons in laser-pumped systems. The book follows the different steps of the introduction, redistribution, loss, and chemical conversion of the vibrational quanta, from the points of view of the overall kinetics...