Plasma (from Ancient Greek πλάσμα 'moldable substance') is one of the four fundamental states of matter, first systematically studied by Irving Langmuir in the 1920s. It consists of a gas of ions – atoms or molecules which have one or more orbital electrons stripped (or, rarely, an extra electron attached), and free electrons.
Plasma can be artificially generated by heating a neutral gas or subjecting it to a strong electromagnetic field. The presence of free charged particles makes plasma electrically conductive, with the dynamics of individual particles and macroscopic plasma motion governed by collective electromagnetic fields and very sensitive to externally applied fields. The response of plasma to electromagnetic fields is used in many modern technological devices, such as plasma televisions or plasma etching.Depending on temperature and density, a certain amount 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 the substance "plasma" depends on a specific phenomenon being considered. In other words, plasma is a matter which cannot be correctly described without the presence of charged particles taken into account.
Excluding dark matter and the even more elusive dark energy, plasma is the most abundant form of ordinary matter in the universe. Plasma is mostly associated with stars, including our Sun,
and extending to the rarefied intracluster medium and possibly the intergalactic regions.
I'm studying wave propagation in the ionosphere, which can be modeled as a dielectric that has a magnetic field present. My understanding of it is that the Poynting vector that is associated with the wave in the medium is not generally in the same direction as the k vector (what I understand to...
hello, new to site. This is my first post. I just was wondering what any ones thoughts were on using the carbon, nitrogen, oxygen cycle in a dense plasma focus device to produce aneutronic fusion power.
If the sun is producing plasma on a large scale on a regular basis, isn't it then true on a smaller scale that we could use the UV Rays of the sun to produce plasma by smashing two magnified rays and liquid hydrogen together in a high speed chamber? The result would be hot plasma that could be...
Hi,
I am into my pst graduation in Physics. And I would like someone to guide me in ho w to master this subject from basic level to the advanced level. What are the main topics one should know very well to start over this subject. It's applications as well.
Thank You!
I was wondering which specific physics courses I should take while still in undergrad if I'm interested in experimental plasma physics (and might study it in grad school).
I've taken all the intro courses for the major branches (electro theory, mechanics, QM, optics, thermal physics...
Hello everyone,
I want to create a plasma chamber, and so far, I have a vacuum bell.
I have a couple of questions... excuse if I have the terminology wrong.
I would like to create a plasma, and then apply a DC magnetic field, so the electron cloud "separates" somewhat from the gas.
I have...
Hello all,
I was wondering if it takes less energy to sustain an already ionized gas with an electric arc than it does when you are first trying to ionize the gas. I would think it would be, but I am not sure.
Thanks.
I've been given a practice question for an exam and I can't quite get it started. The question is: Intelligent beings on a distant planet try and communicate with Earth by sending powerful radio waves swept in frequency from 10 to 50MHz per minute. The linearly polarized emissions must pass...
Hello all,
I was wondering if the temperature of a plasma is relative to how much of it there is, or if it is purely based on how much energy is put into it? Thanks.
now even though I searched the forums for keywords and came up with none exactly matching my case excuse me if this has been asked.
Firstly is it possible to have a high pressure but low temperature self sustaining plasma? i do understand that temperature corresponds to the plasma particle...
Hi.
is there anyone who is familiar with surface wave plasma discharges?
I want to solve dispersion equation of surface waves in cylindrical plasma column,numerically,to obtain "phase diagram" and "attenuation diagram" from dispersion equation solving.
But this dispersion equation include...
Hi.
I have a problem.
as you know,in a plasma medium(such as cylindrical tube),we have:
εr = 1- [ ωp^2 / ω*(ω - jv) ]
that : v = collision frequency
ωp = plasma frequency
but I don't know meaning of " ω " ,exactly.
ω is RF feed frequency of plasma or incident wave frequency to plasma...
Hey there,
I was looking to buy a plasma globe as a desk ornament at work.
Problem is, I deal with circuit cards and other pieces of electronic equipment. None of us wear ESD bracelets, so the components aren't extremely sensitive.
I was just wondering if the globe would emit a strong enough...
Life based on carbon needs very especial conditions to thrive, life on Earth is a clear example of that. Lots of time and research have been dedicated trying to find carbon based life elsewhere on the Universe, but that search may be too narrow because that search assumes that life can only be...
Hi everyone,
i recently saw some videos were a microwave laser (gaser) was used to create a plasma in midair. So the first part of my question is, if you could handle the ray fast enough, could one print 3dimensional-layered plasmastructures into non-disturbed atmosphere? If no, what did i not...
This really isn't a HW problem, but this seemed like the best place to post my question.
Imagine a modern city's water cycle. Clean water is obtained from a river or from groundwater, and this water is used for drinking, bathing and industrial uses. Afterwards the water is fouled...
Hello everyone,
I would like to get ~200 MeV quasi-monoenergetic electron beam by doing 2D Particle-In-Cell simulation in bubble regime. The moving window dimension is 50x50 μm for x and y, the simulation mesh size is set 0.04x0.4 μm, each mesh includes 10 particles, laser wavelength is 800 nm...
I liked my previous courses in statistical mechanics and fluid dynamics, however I don't really like E&M, especially at the Jackson level. I am thinking about doing research in plasma physics. Would I hate plasma physics if I didn't like electrodynamics? Or is that not an issue and does plasma...
What is the general difference between the two (for someone who is still new to nuclear physics) and which one produces the highest net energy? Which of these has the highest potential for the future?
Hello everyone, I was recently creating two different types of plasma for a Science Fair, one created from ionised Helium, (although it's the party balloon stuff, and I hear there's some Oxygen in them) and the other was created from air. I was testing how the plasmas reacted to magnetic fields...
After a science fair experiment we have measured the similarities and differences of plasma created by air and helium. Our methodology is as follows.
Methodology A(air):
1. Light a match and place it on a small raised surface inside a microwave
2. Cover the match with a glass bowl/beaker...
I did my undergrad in mathematics, and I really enjoyed studying that subject. After graduating, I've been continuing my study in Real Analysis with one of my undergrad professors, and I really feel like I'm blooming into a decent analysis student. This week I'm going to start learning...
Ok small bit of a problem which I have been experiencing.
I am using an industrial size plasma oven by advance plasma sytems. This plasma oven operates at an RF of 1600 watts for approx 8 minutes for the duration of the plasma cycle.
It pulls down to a vacuum of 450mTorr and use oygen as a...
For a science fair experiment me and my partner created plasma using a microwave. We used two different methods which both had different results. For the first one we simply put a match on a raised surface and put a beaker over the top using small pieces of cork to elevate the blacker so that...
Hi everyone,
I am about to enter a local Science Fair and my project revolves around creating plasma in a microwave. This is a great experiment, all you do is stick a lighted match in a cork, (or something to hold the match in place) put it in the microwave with a glass beaker over the match...
This may seem like a strange question, I'm trying to differentiate between the spectra from a plasma and the spectra from a black body, is there a difference?
I'm thinking the spectrum from a plasma would be that of bremstrahhlung as it is ions flying everywhere, so it would not be possible...
What is the energy partition in the laser-induced plasma? Based on the atomic emission spectra from the plasma, we can infer the electron temperature and electron density from Boltzmann-plot and Stark broadening, I wonder how can I calculate the total energy in this plasma?
Hey has anyone had experience with a good book on Laser-Plasma interaction at a graduate level? I've seen a few on amazon and the like but they rarely have reviews so I have no idea how good they are.
Thanks you!
Ok I'm posting this here as well since It falls under both engineering and high energy physics, since I haven't gotten an answer on the high energy physics thread. So I've been researching Dense Plasma Focus devices for a while now and a question just occurred to me. Since the fill gass such as...
So I've been researching Dense Plasma Focus devices for a while now and a question just occurred to me. Since the fill gass such as deuterium is being ionized and then compressed and fused in the Plasmoid, wouldn't some of the cathode material also be ionized and the trapped in the Plasmoid...
Hello.
Do you know that if you take grape to the microwave, you can make some plasma? I think so.
()
However, on internet is a lot of explanation why does thegrape in microwave produce plasma, but they are not good or they are different. I don't know some official theory.
So, I have a...
Hi all.
I am currently trying to determine the specifications of equipment I need to create a plasma. I am looking to generate a plasma in chamber of Helium at a pressure of about 0.6 Torr. My electrodes are around 17cm apart (giving me a pd of 10 Torr cm). By consulting Paschen curves, I see...
Does anybody know any topics within plasma physics that a 17 year could research in? I'm doing a qualification called the EPQ where students undertake a research project in any topic they would like and write a 5000 word essay. I'm in year 12 and have taken As level Maths and Further Maths. I...
dear sir,
when hydrogen atom is converted to plasma state, the free electron must be released. i am curious to know where does this electron go in case of plasma in stars.
thank you.
Ok so I recently read this article (http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/184280-focus-fusion-has-cheap-clean-earth-saving-fusion-power-been-right-under-our-noses-all-along). This gave me a few ideas and a few questions. I would like to create a smaller version of this setup to fuse deuterium into...
I am in a forum where there are two EU crackpot theorists that insist on the universe being infinite and static. Since the universe is 98.6% plasma; I asked them if plasma has mass. I am not a physicist but I know that a static universe cannot be if this plasma has mass as this would cause the...
I need to find the correct voltage to apply to a wire grid in order to repel a plasma of which I know the density (free electrons per volume) and the particle energy in eV. I see a Debye sheath as being analogous to what I will create with such a charge.
The way I see it is that I will have...
I am an electrical engineering student doing my third year. I am interested in doing research in making fusion energy a commercial energy source by doing research in current techniques and also interested in creating new techniques for making fusion process continuous and efficient than...
Impact of magnetic field on a "dirty" plasma.
This follows on from an earlier post of mine, which is now closed. I can also now disclose that it refers to my UK Patent Application GB1312183.5, which claims (in essence) that a linear motor can be used as a compressor for a jet engine.
That...
(Wasn't sure on the right section for plasma physics, I apologise if this is wrong).I'm reading up right now on a plasma surrounded by a tokamak wall, and the assumption of ideal magnetohydrodynamics - which assumes very little internal electrical resistivity and so the plasma can be assumed as...
So far I've only found some leads into the use of magnetohydrodynamics theory in designing liquid metal cooled reactors. Anyone know of any other topics?