How Do Microwaves Create Plasma by Separating Atoms into Ions and Electrons?

[Misha Kuznetsov]

Hello,

Microwaves are classified as non-ionizing radiation, so my question is, how do microwaves separate atoms into positive ions and electrons? I've heard of multi-photon ionization, is this what happens?

 

[rootone]

Non-ionizing means what it says.
Microwaves do not ionize atoms.
They have sufficient energy to excite electrons, but not enough energy to disassociate the electron from the atom it is a part of.
More energetic radiation, such as X-rays can do that.

 

[Drakkith]

Each individual microwave photon has too little energy to ionize atoms, but a LOT of microwave photons can heat materials up high enough to possibly generate a plasma.

 

[rootone]

Each individual microwave photon has too little energy to ionize atoms, but a LOT of microwave photons can heat materials up high enough to possibly generate a plasma.

True, but if we define plasma as that, then a candle flame is plasma.
Nothing nuclear going on there.

 

[Drakkith]

True, but if we define plasma as that, then a candle flame is plasma.
Nothing nuclear going on there.

Nothing nuclear needs to be going on at all in order to have a plasma. The material just needs to be ionized.

 

[Misha Kuznetsov]

Okay, thanks.