Mercury as a plasma at 150 Kelvin

[gary808]

TL;DR Summary

Can you have mercury as a plasma at 150 kelvin?

I was reading up on a theoretical engine employing the following, “Mercury plasma pressurized at 250k atmospheres, at a temperature of 150 degrees kelvin (-123° C), and swirled within its accelerator to 50k RPM.”

Does pressurizing mercury so much somehow allow a plasma to form at such sub-zero temperatures?
This seems to fly in the face of what I understand should be super-heated plasma.

 

[Ibix]

Might help to say where you read it.

 

[berkeman]

Might help to say where you read it.

Or maybe not, since the source was not valid.

@gary808 -- your question is "Can you have mercury as a plasma at 150 kelvin?" right? What defines a plasma? What parameters (like pressure) can affect the plasma state other than temperature?

Does pressurizing mercury so much somehow allow a plasma to form at such sub-zero temperatures?

 

[Baluncore]

I believe Hg would be solid at that temperature.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Phase_diagram_of_mercury_(1975).png

https://www.researchgate.net/figure...num-wall-The-locus-of-A-points_fig1_241551836

It would have an extremely low vapour pressure at 150 K, and could not be evaporated without significant heating above 200 K. A cold Hg plasma would rapidly condense onto the wall of the pressure vessel, or form an alloy with the containment.

 

[gary808]

Or maybe not, since the source was not valid.

@gary808 -- your question is "Can you have mercury as a plasma at 150 kelvin?" right? What defines a plasma? What parameters (like pressure) can affect the plasma state other than temperature?

Yes. My point is in debunking pseudo-science. Just wanted to double-check with the experts. Pressurization isn't a factor. If it's 150 kelvin, then it is likely a solid, or else it's not 150 kelvin but a super-heated plasma instead.

 

[berkeman]

Yes. My point is in debunking pseudo-science. Just wanted to double-check with the experts. Pressurization isn't a factor. If it's 150 kelvin, then it is likely a solid, or else it's not 150 kelvin but a super-heated plasma instead.

We don't debunk pseudoscience at PF. Thread is closed.