Discovering the Energy Requirements for Creating Plasma | Learn More Now!

In summary, the energy needed to make plasma depends on the type of material and the amount of it. The definition of plasma includes various types such as those found in plasma displays, fluorescent lamps, and rocket exhaust. The energy required for each type of plasma varies greatly, and can be calculated using parameters such as ionization potential or heat capacity, depending on the specific type of plasma being produced. For a project on Star Wars blasters, the most relevant type of plasma would likely be laser-produced plasma.
  • #1
Roaringdragon
3
0
How much energy does it take to make plasma?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
We would need to heat a material up to around 5,000+ kelvin. The exact energy needed to do so depends on what the material was and how much of it there is.
 
  • #3
Is there a formula to determine the amount of energy needed?
 
  • #5
Roaringdragon said:
How much energy does it take to make plasma?

Roaringdragon, Welcome to Physics Forums!

Drakkith is correct, plasma can be made by heating gas. But that's only one kind of plasma. In Nature and in the laboratory there are many different kinds of plasmas. It would be helpful to learn the definition of the term "plasma" to begin with, and then get and idea of the different types. For instance, the Wiki page defines plasma and lists these:

• Those found in plasma displays, including TVs
• Inside fluorescent lamps (low energy lighting), neon signs[4]
• Rocket exhaust and ion thrusters
• The area in front of a spacecraft 's heat shield during re-entry into the atmosphere
• Inside a corona discharge ozone generator
• Fusion energy research
• The electric arc in an arc lamp, an arc welder or plasma torch
• Plasma ball (sometimes called a plasma sphere or plasma globe)
• Arcs produced by Tesla coils (resonant air core transformer or disruptor coil that produces arcs similar to lightning, but with alternating current rather than static electricity)
• Plasmas used in semiconductor device fabrication including reactive-ion etching, sputtering, surface cleaning and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition
• Laser-produced plasmas (LPP), found when high power lasers interact with materials.
• Inductively coupled plasmas (ICP), formed typically in argon gas for optical emission spectroscopy or mass spectrometry
• Magnetically induced plasmas (MIP), typically produced using microwaves as a resonant coupling method
• Lightning
• St. Elmo's fire
• Upper-atmospheric lightning
• The ionosphere
• The polar aurorae
• Some extremely hot flames[citation needed]
• The Sun and other stars (plasmas heated by nuclear fusion)
• The solar wind
• The interplanetary medium (space between planets)
• The interstellar medium(space between star systems)
• The Intergalactic medium (space between galaxies)
• The Io-Jupiter flux tube
• Accretion discs
• Interstellar nebulae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics )

As for the energy to produce these, there is a very wide range, and probably each one could be calculated, but you'd need to specify which one you're interested in.

Cheers,
Bobbywhy
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #6
I think ionization potential will get you closer to the answer than heat capacity.
 
  • #7
Thanks for all the replies!
As for the specific type of plasma, I'm doing a project about Star wars blasters and the energy it takes to power them, so I'm assuming it would be laser produced plasmas?
and @Antiphon I was thinking that too, however, I wasn't sure what element to use
 

What is plasma?

Plasma is the fourth state of matter, in which atoms are ionized and the electrons are separated from the nuclei. It is often referred to as the "fourth state of matter" and is found in stars, lightning, and neon lights.

How is plasma created?

Plasma can be created by heating a gas to a very high temperature, causing the atoms to become ionized. This can also be achieved by applying a strong electric field to a gas, or by subjecting a gas to a strong electromagnetic field.

What are the energy requirements for creating plasma?

The amount of energy required for creating plasma depends on the type of gas used, the temperature and pressure of the gas, and the strength of the electric or electromagnetic field. Generally, a high amount of energy is needed to create plasma.

What are the applications of plasma?

Plasma has a wide range of applications, including in fusion energy research, semiconductor manufacturing, medical treatments, and environmental remediation. It is also used in everyday items such as fluorescent lights, plasma televisions, and computer screens.

Why is it important to study the energy requirements for creating plasma?

Understanding the energy requirements for creating plasma is crucial for developing more efficient and sustainable methods for producing plasma. It also helps in improving our understanding of plasma physics, which has a wide range of applications in various fields of science and technology.

Similar threads

I Can surface plasmons be used to build GeV gamma-ray lasers?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
2
Views
1K
B How Does Quantum Turbulence Affect Plasma in a Tokamak?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
2
Views
10K
I Physical interpretation of a plasma (Te, Tv, Tr)
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
2
Views
950
I Thermal field theory of an isolated electroweak plasma
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
13
Views
2K
What amount of energy is needed to make a field of plasma?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
15
Views
2K
I Can a liquid or solid plasma exist?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
26
Views
6K
I Understanding Plasma: Definition, Theory, and Applications
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
9
Views
3K
A What is wrong with particle acceleration based fusion?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
5
Views
1K
B Which one is more efficient in generating high energy Gamma rays?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K
I What is the approximate impedance of an RF plasma "antenna"?
    • High Energy, Nuclear, Particle Physics
Replies
4
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top