Uncovering the Truth: Is the Glowing Substance in Microwaves Really Plasma?

[8LAK]

I saw this video and several others like it, all claiming that the glowing substance created in the microwave is indeed plasma. To my (limited) knowledge on the subject, plasma is just an ionized/electrified gas. However, others say that there is no way the substance could be plasma, as real plasma would be millions of degrees and melt straight through the glass and microwave.

Is the substance created in the microwave real plasma? And if not, what exactly IS it?

 

[PhaseShifter]

I think that misconception comes from the idea of nuclear fusion using a confined plasma.

The plasma state only requires kT be high enough to remove electrons from a significant fraction of atoms or molecules in the gas, not shatter (or fuse) nuclei.

 

[sir-pinski]

The glowing substance created in microwaves is not real plasma. As you mentioned, plasma is a state of matter that is extremely hot and can only be created at temperatures in the millions of degrees. It is true that microwaves use electromagnetic radiation to heat up food, but the temperature inside a microwave is only around 100-200 degrees Celsius. This is not hot enough to create plasma.

So what exactly is the glowing substance in microwaves? It is actually a phenomenon called "electroluminescence." When certain materials are exposed to high-frequency electromagnetic fields, they can emit light. This is what causes the substance in microwaves to glow.

It is important to note that this electroluminescence is a completely different process from plasma. While both involve the emission of light, plasma is a state of matter while electroluminescence is a physical phenomenon. So while the substance in microwaves may look similar to plasma, it is not the same thing.

In conclusion, the glowing substance in microwaves is not plasma. It is a form of electroluminescence caused by the high-frequency electromagnetic fields used to heat up food. It is important to always fact-check information and not believe everything we see on the internet.