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The article presents information on papers published in October 2005 special issue of the "IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science," on vacuum discharge plasmas. This special issue presents, with a few exceptions, expanded versions of papers submitted to the XXIst International Symposium on Discharge and Electrical Insulation in Vacuum, organized by the local organizing committee consisting of Russian and Ukrainian specialists. The symposium was hosted by IG Tavrida Electric, Moscow, Russia, and held in the Conference Center of the Hotel Yalta, Yalta, Crimea, from September 27, 2004 to October 1, 2004.

The overview summarizes the main electromagnetic activities in Russia since the 13th Electromagnetic Launch Technology Symposium in 2006. This research has been focused on the development and improvement of electric-discharge launchers, railguns, and electrothermal-chemical launchers. Research efforts have been directed toward studying the physical phenomena and processes limiting the attainment of high velocities and life time of launchers. Considerable attention has been paid to solving problems related to material erosion, the manufacture of new materials and their testing in high-current arc discharges and the search for new applications of launchers in science and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]