Abstract
Gaseous media may efficiently convert into photons the energy losses of particles and the energy supplied by electric fields to drifting electrons. Some mechanisms associated with the process of light production, in particular the two continua and a few energy transfer phenomena, are considered. The relevance of these processes to control the spectral distribution of the photons, and consequently to its detection, and their interest for the time characteristics and the energy resolution capabilities of detecting devices are also referred to. A few examples are presented of instrumental results that either reflect important characteristics of gas scintillation counters, or point to further possible developments, as regards energy, time and position resolutions.
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