In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize (reduce the number of electrons in) its molecules or atoms, thus turning it into plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons. Ionization can be induced by other means, such as strong electromagnetic field applied with a laser or microwave generator, and is accompanied by the dissociation of molecular bonds, if present. The presence of a non-negligible number of charge carriers makes the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields. Plasma, therefore, has properties quite unlike those of solids, liquids, or gases and is considered a distinct state of matter. Like gas, plasma does not have a definite shape or a definite volume unless enclosed in a container; unlike gas, under the influence of a magnetic field, it may form structures such as filaments, beams and double layer. Some common plasmas are stars and neon signs. In the universe, plasma is the most common state of matter for ordinary matter, most of which is in the rarefied intergalactic plasma (particularly intracluster medium) and in stars.

Download PDF

References

1. Sturrock, Peter A. (1994). Plasma Physics: An Introduction to the Theory ofAstrophysical, Geophysical & Laboratory Plasmas. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521448107.
2. It is often stated that more than 99% of the material in the visible universe is plasma. See, for example, D. A. Gurnett, A. Bhattacharjee (2005). Introduction to PlasmaPhysics: With Space and Laboratory Applications. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 2. ISBN 0521364833. andK Scherer, H Fichtner, B Heber (2005). Space Weather: The Physics behind a Slogan. Berlin: Springer. p. 138. ISBN 3540229078. Essentially, all of the visible light from space comes from stars, which are plasmas with a temperature such that they radiate strongly at visible wavelengths. Most of the ordinary (or baryonic) matter in the universe, however, is foundin the intergalactic medium, which is also a plasma, but much hotter, so that it radiates primarily as X-rays. The current scientific consensus is that about 96% of the total energydensity in the universe is not plasma or any other form of ordinary matter, but a combination of cold dark matter and dark energy
3. IPPEX Glossary of Fusion Terms
4. Plasma fountain Source, press release: Solar Wind Squeezes Some of Earth's Atmosphere into Space
5. Hazeltine, R.D.; Waelbroeck, F.L. (2004). The Framework of Plasma Physics.Westview Press. ISBN 0738200476.
6. R. O. Dendy (1990). Plasma Dynamics. Oxford UniversityPress. ISBN 0198520417.
7. Daniel Hastings, Henry Garrett (2000). Spacecraft-Environment Interactions.Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521471281.
8. Peratt, A. L. (1966). 'Advances in Numerical Modeling of Astrophysical andSpace Plasmas'. Astrophysics and Space Science 242 (1–2): 93–163. Bibcode 1996Ap&SS.242...93P. doi:10.1007/BF00645112.
9. See The Non-natural Plasma Group at the University of California, San Diego
10. Nicholson, Dwight R. (1983). Introduction to Plasma Theory. John Wiley &Sons. ISBN 047109045X.
11. See Flashes in the Sky: Earth's Gamma-Ray Bursts Triggered by Lightning
12. Richard Fitzpatrick, Introduction to Plasma Physics, Magnetized plasmas
13. Hong, Alice (2000). 'Dielectric Strength of Air'. The Physics Fact book.
14. Dickel, J. R. (1990). 'The Filaments in Supernova Remnants: Sheets, Strings,Ribbons, or?” Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 22:832. Bibcode 1990BAAS...22.832D.
15. Grydeland, T., et al. (2003). 'Interferometric observations of filamentary structures associated with plasma instability in the auroral ionosphere'. Geophysical Research Letters 30 (6): 71. Bibcode2003GeoRL..30f..71G. doi:10.1029/2002GL016362.
16. Moss, Gregory D., et al. (2006). 'Monte Carlo model for analysis of thermal runaway electrons in streamer tips in transient luminous events and streamer zones of lightning leaders'. Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (A2):A02307. Bibcode 2006JGRA..11102307M. doi:10.1029/2005JA011350.
17. Doherty, Lowell R.; Menzel, Donald H. (1965). 'Filamentary Structure in Solar Prominences'. The Astrophysical Journal 141:

Back