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Qaiphyx
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not sure if this is in the right section but...
What exactly causes plasma to reach such high temperatures?
What exactly causes plasma to reach such high temperatures?
Qaiphyx said:not sure if this is in the right section but...
What exactly causes plasma to reach such high temperatures?
mathman said:Are you talking about astronomical plasmas or lab experiments?
In the latter case, ionized particles are accelerated by a series of magnets. There may be other methods.
For astronomical cases, there may also be many ways - one is the energy from a supernova explosion.
There are various means of heating a gas to cause ionization in order to make it a plasma. One method is simply to apply a sufficiently high potential difference, as in a neon lamp or fluorescent lightbuld, or an arc discharge.Qaiphyx said:not sure if this is in the right section but...
What exactly causes plasma to reach such high temperatures?
Astronuc said:There are various means of heating a gas to cause ionization in order to make it a plasma. One method is simply to apply a sufficiently high potential difference, as in a neon lamp or fluorescent lightbuld, or an arc discharge.
In fusion reactors like a tokamak, one can use ohmic heating in which a large current is induced in the gas, which behaves like a wind of a transformer. Other methods include radiofrequency heating in which the electrons are heated, and their energy is then transferred by collisions with ions.
Yet another method is neutral beam heating in which gas (fuel) atoms are ionized, the ions are accelerated to several keV or 10's of keV, and then the ions are neutralized (recombined with the electrons of which they were stripped) and injected into the gas/plasma.
Ideally, if sufficient fusion reactions can be induced, then the kinetic energy of the fusion reaction would heat the plasma, which is the goal for sustainable fusion reaction.
One puts in energy to heat a plasma. The high temperature is a consequence of the energy content. One needs to understand the relationship of molecular/atomic/ion/electron kinetics and temperature.Qaiphyx said:Didnt know that about the gas. But I am curious as to what is it in the plasma that puts it to such high temperatures?
Plasma is the fourth state of matter, in addition to solid, liquid, and gas. It is a hot, ionized gas made up of positively and negatively charged particles.
Plasma temperatures are primarily caused by the energy of the particles within it. This energy can come from external sources, such as heating, or from internal sources, such as nuclear fusion reactions.
Plasma temperatures are typically measured using instruments such as spectroscopes, which analyze the spectrum of light emitted by the plasma. The intensity of certain spectral lines can indicate the temperature of the plasma.
High plasma temperatures can have a variety of effects, depending on the specific situation. In some cases, it can cause materials to melt or vaporize, while in others, it can result in nuclear fusion reactions. It can also have important applications in fields such as energy production and materials processing.
Scientists study plasma temperatures through a combination of experiments and simulations. They may use specialized equipment, such as plasma chambers or fusion reactors, to create and manipulate plasma in controlled environments. They also use computer models and simulations to better understand the complex behavior of plasma at high temperatures.