"Plasma is one of four fundamental states of matter, characterized by the presence of a significant portion of charged particles in any combination of ions or electrons."
A state of matter that exists at high temperatures, in which atoms become ionized and electrons are free to move.
States of matter: A fundamental concept, which describes the different physical properties of matter, including solids, liquids, gases and plasma.
Plasma: A state of matter consisting of charged particles, which is formed at high energy levels and temperatures.
Plasma physics: A branch of physics that deals with the study of plasma and its properties, including its interactions with electromagnetic fields.
Plasma chemistry: A subfield of plasma physics, which involves the study of chemical reactions and their mechanisms in plasma environments.
Plasma etching: A process that uses plasma to remove layers of material from a surface, often used in the semiconductor industry to create microelectronics.
Plasma spraying: A technique that uses plasma to deposit coatings onto surfaces.
Fusion: The process of combining atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, which releases a large amount of energy, is the subject of much research in plasma physics.
Magnetic confinement fusion: A technique for controlling and confining plasma using magnetic fields to produce energy.
Inertial confinement fusion: A technique for producing fusion energy by compressing a small target with a very high-energy laser to create plasma.
Tokamak devices: A type of magnetic confinement fusion device, which is the most widely adopted research design for fusion reactors.
Laser-plasma interaction: A process in which high-intensity laser pulses are used to create plasma, which has applications in several fields.
Plasma diagnostics: Techniques used to measure plasma properties, including its temperature, density, and particle distribution.
Plasma modeling: Mathematical modeling of plasma systems, which helps to understand plasma behavior and its effects.
Plasma processes: A wide range of processes, including surface treatment, welding, cutting, and drilling, which are carried out using plasma.
Plasma and astrophysics: The study of plasma and its role in astronomical phenomena such as stars, galaxies, and black holes.
Plasma medicine: The application of plasma in medical treatments, including wound healing, sterilization, and cancer treatment.
Plasma generation: The ways in which plasma is generated, including electrical, microwave, and laser-based methods.
Plasma properties: The physical and chemical properties of plasma, including its conductivity, viscosity, and thermal properties.
Plasma sources: The different types of plasma sources, including corona discharge, capacitively coupled plasma, and inductively coupled plasma sources.
Plasma technology: The use of plasma to develop new materials, improve manufacturing processes, and produce new products.
Thermal plasma: This type of plasma is created by heating a gas to extremely high temperatures, usually in excess of 10,000 Kelvin. At these temperatures, the gas becomes ionized, with the electrons separating from the nuclei. Thermal plasma is commonly found in stars and in some man-made devices such as plasma cutters and welding torches.
Non-thermal plasma: This type of plasma is created by applying an electrical field to a gas at much lower temperatures than thermal plasma. Non-thermal plasma can be used to sterilize medical equipment or to purify air and water.
Magnetized plasma: This type of plasma is created when a magnetic field is applied to a gas. This causes the charged particles in the gas to spiral around the magnetic field lines, creating a unique type of plasma that is used in fusion experiments and in some industrial applications.
Glow discharge plasma: This type of plasma is created by applying a voltage to a gas-filled tube, causing the gas to glow. Some common examples of glow discharge plasma include neon lights and fluorescent lamps.
Dusty plasma: This type of plasma includes particles of dust that are suspended in a plasma. Dusty plasma is of interest to scientists because it can exhibit unique behavior due to the presence of dust particles.
Astrophysical plasma: This type of plasma is found in space, such as in stars, galaxies, and other astronomical objects.
High-energy plasma: This type of plasma is created by high-energy sources such as nuclear explosions or lightning. High-energy plasma is of interest to scientists because it can create unique chemical reactions and emit high-energy radiation.
Low-temperature plasma: This type of plasma is created at temperatures close to room temperature, and is used in a variety of industrial applications such as treating surfaces and improving adhesion.
"It is the most abundant form of ordinary matter in the universe, mostly in stars (including the Sun), but also dominating the rarefied intracluster medium and intergalactic medium."
"Plasma can be artificially generated by heating a neutral gas or subjecting it to a strong electromagnetic field."
"The presence of charged particles makes plasma electrically conductive."
"The dynamics of individual particles and macroscopic plasma motion are governed by collective electromagnetic fields and very sensitive to externally applied fields."
"The response of plasma to electromagnetic fields is used in many modern devices and technologies, such as plasma televisions or plasma etching."
"Depending on temperature and density, a certain number of neutral particles may also be present, in which case plasma is called partially ionized."
"Neon signs and lightning are examples of partially ionized plasmas."
"Unlike the phase transitions between the other three states of matter, the transition to plasma is not well defined and is a matter of interpretation and context."
"Whether a given degree of ionization suffices to call a substance 'plasma' depends on the specific phenomenon being considered."