Plasma physics

A plasma lamp

In physics and chemistry, a plasma is typically an ionized gas, and is usually considered to be a distinct state of matter in contrast to gases because of its unique properties. "Ionized" means that at least one electron has been dissociated from, or added to, a proportion of the atoms or molecules. The free electric charges make the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields.

Plasma is typically formed by heating and ionizing a gas, stripping electrons away from atoms, thereby enabling the positive and negative charges to move freely.

Fields of active research

Hall effect thruster. The electric field in a plasma double layer is so effective at accelerating ions, that electric fields are used in ion drives

This is just a partial list of topics. A more complete and organized list can be found on the Web site for Plasma science and technology .

Plasma theory Plasma equilibria and stability Plasma interactions with waves and beams Guiding center Adiabatic invariant Debye sheath Coulomb collision Plasmas in nature The Earth's ionosphere Space plasmas, e.g. Earth's plasmasphere (an inner portion of the magnetosphere dense with plasma) Astrophysical plasma Industrial plasmas Plasma chemistry Plasma processing Vacuum plasmaspraying Plasma display

Plasma sources Dusty Plasmas Plasma diagnostics Thomson scattering Langmuir probe Spectroscopy Interferometry Ionospheric heating Incoherent scatter radar Plasma applications Fusion power Magnetic fusion energy (MFE) — tokamak, stellarator, reversed field pinch, magnetic mirror, dense plasma focus Inertial fusion energy (IFE) (also Inertial confinement fusion — ICF) Plasma-based weaponry Food processing (Nonthermal plasma)

Resources

• Search for Plasma physics at Wikiversity
• Wikipedia: Plasma physics

See also

• School:Physics