Plasma - Revision history

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	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-10-15]]		[[Category:Done 2018-04-30]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Plasma''' is the 4th state of [[matter]]. It is composed of mostly [[ionization\|ionized particles]] and is often viewed as a [[gas]], however ~~it has much~~ different ~~properties than~~ a typical gas. Although plasma isn't often seen on Earth (aside from lightning, fluorescent tubes, and the Aurora Borealis), some sources say that as much as '''99%''' of the ordinary matter in the universe is plasma.<ref name=chen>F. Chen, "Introduction," in ''Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion'', 2nd ed., New York: Springer, 2006, ch.1</ref> This estimate is based on the idea that all of the stars, gaseous nebulae and interstellar [[hydrogen]] are plasmas.</onlyinclude>		<onlyinclude>'''Plasma''' is the 4th state of [[matter]]. It is composed of mostly [[ionization\|ionized particles]] and is often viewed as a [[gas]], however exhibits various properties different to that of a typical gas. Although plasma isn't often seen on Earth (aside from lightning, fluorescent tubes, and the Aurora Borealis), some sources say that as much as '''99%''' of the ordinary matter in the universe is plasma.<ref name=chen>F. Chen, "Introduction," in ''Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion'', 2nd ed., New York: Springer, 2006, ch.1</ref> This estimate is based on the idea that all of the stars, gaseous nebulae and interstellar [[hydrogen]] are plasmas.</onlyinclude>

	<gallery caption="Plasma in our solar system" mode=packed heights=160px>		<gallery caption="Plasma in our solar system" mode=packed heights=160px>
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	</gallery>		</gallery>

	~~The reasons~~ plasma is not so common on Earth is due to the high [[temperature]]s ~~that are~~ required to keep a gas in the plasma state. At average temperatures on Earth there just isn't enough [[energy]] for [[atom]]s to remain ionized. However at thousands to millions of degrees [[Kelvin]] these energies are available, and plasmas dominate.<ref name=chen/> The nearest example of plasma abundance is in the [[Sun]], where extremely high temperatures rip the [[electron]]s from [[hydrogen]] and [[helium]] atoms.<ref>Jefferson Labs. (Accessed October 18, 2015). ''What is plasma?'' [Online], Available: http://education.jlab.org/qa/plasma_01.html</ref>		One reason plasma is not so common on Earth is due to the high [[temperature]]s required to keep a gas in the plasma state. At average temperatures on Earth there just isn't enough [[energy]] for [[atom]]s to remain ionized. However, at thousands to millions of degrees [[Kelvin]] these energies are available, and plasmas dominate.<ref name=chen/> The nearest example of plasma abundance is in the [[Sun]], where extremely high temperatures rip the [[electron]]s from [[hydrogen]] and [[helium]] atoms.<ref>Jefferson Labs. (Accessed October 18, 2015). ''What is plasma?'' [Online], Available: http://education.jlab.org/qa/plasma_01.html</ref>

	==Properties==		==Properties==
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	==Applications of plasma physics==		==Applications of plasma physics==

	Plasmas are very useful due to them covering a wide range of configurations; their particle [[density]] ranges over 28 orders of magnitude from <m>10^6</m> to <m>10^{34}</m> particles per cubic meter, and their energy ranges over 7 orders of magnitude.<ref name=chen/> Some applications include:		Plasmas are very useful due to them covering a wide range of configurations; their particle [[density]] ranges over 28 orders of magnitude from <math>10^6</math> to <math>10^{34}</math> particles per cubic meter, and their energy ranges over 7 orders of magnitude.<ref name=chen/> Some applications include:

	*'''Gas discharges''' - these are encountered in mercury rectifiers, ignitrons, spark gaps (ie. [[spark plug]]s), neon and fluorescent lights, and lightning.		*'''Gas discharges''' - these are encountered in mercury rectifiers, ignitrons, spark gaps (ie. [[spark plug]]s), neon and fluorescent lights, and lightning.
	*'''Controlled fusion''' - the beginnings for controlled [[nuclear fusion]] occurred in the mid 1950's after hydrogen bomb's fusion abilities were already known. The basic reactions involve the use of [[deuterium]] and [[tritium]] atoms colliding at high enough energies in order to fuse together. Plasmas are necessary for this in order to maintain high enough energies, however the problem of heating and containing a plasma [[efficiency\|efficiently]] is still largely unresolved.<ref name=chen/>		*'''Controlled fusion''' - the beginnings for controlled [[nuclear fusion]] occurred in the mid 1950's after hydrogen bomb's fusion abilities were already known. The basic reactions involve the use of [[deuterium]] and [[tritium]] atoms colliding at high enough energies in order to fuse together. Plasmas are necessary for this in order to maintain high enough energies, however the problem of heating and containing a plasma [[efficiency\|efficiently]] is still largely unresolved.<ref name=chen/>
	*'''Space and astrophysics''' - the study of the solar wind that constantly bombards the Earth, responsible for the phenomena of Aurora Borealis, concerns plasma because this wind is highly ionized particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. The study of stellar dynamics also concerns plasma.		*'''Space and astrophysics''' - the study of the solar wind that constantly bombards the Earth, responsible for the phenomena of Aurora Borealis, concerns plasma because this wind is highly ionized particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. The study of stellar dynamics also concerns plasma.

			== For Further Reading ==
			For further information please see the related pages below:
			*[[Nuclear fusion in the Sun]]
			*[[Solid]]
			*[[Gas]]
			*[[Liquid]]
			* Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page!]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

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Jmdonev at 00:41, 23 October 2015

2015-10-23T00:41:28Z

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[[Category:Done 2015-10-15]]
<onlyinclude>'''Plasma''' is the 4th state of [[matter]]. It is composed of mostly [[ionization|ionized particles]] and is often viewed as a [[gas]], however it has much different properties than a typical gas. Although plasma isn't often seen on Earth (aside from lightning, fluorescent tubes, and the Aurora Borealis), some sources say that as much as '''99%''' of the ordinary matter in the universe is plasma.<ref name=chen>F. Chen, "Introduction," in ''Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion'', 2nd ed., New York: Springer, 2006, ch.1</ref> This estimate is based on the idea that all of the stars, gaseous nebulae and interstellar [[hydrogen]] are plasmas.</onlyinclude>

<gallery caption="Plasma in our solar system" mode=packed heights=160px>
File:Lightning3.jpg|Lightning.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lightning3.jpg</ref>
File:Tcv_int.jpg|Fusion reactor chamber.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Tcv_int.jpg</ref>
File:Sunsun.jpg|Sun.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeastern_coastal_forests#/media/File:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/The_Sun_in_extreme_ultraviolet.jpg</ref>
File:star_Neon_Lights.JPG|Neon lights.<ref>Wikimedia Commons [Online], Available: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Mill_Mountain_Star_Neon_Lights.JPG/1024px-Mill_Mountain_Star_Neon_Lights.JPG</ref>
</gallery>

The reasons plasma is not so common on Earth is due to the high [[temperature]]s that are required to keep a gas in the plasma state. At average temperatures on Earth there just isn't enough [[energy]] for [[atom]]s to remain ionized. However at thousands to millions of degrees [[Kelvin]] these energies are available, and plasmas dominate.<ref name=chen/> The nearest example of plasma abundance is in the [[Sun]], where extremely high temperatures rip the [[electron]]s from [[hydrogen]] and [[helium]] atoms.<ref>Jefferson Labs. (Accessed October 18, 2015). ''What is plasma?'' [Online], Available: http://education.jlab.org/qa/plasma_01.html</ref>

==Properties==
Since the particles of plasma have [[charge]], it interacts strangely within itself. As the charges move around they can generate local concentrations of positive or negative charge giving rise to [[electric field]]s. As well, since the charged particles are ''moving'', they generate [[current]]s which gives rise to [[magnetic field]]s within the plasma.<ref name=chen/> These fields affect the motion of other charged particles far away, so this system is extremely dynamic.

Because of this behaviour, plasma does not tend to conform to external influences, rather it behaves as if it had a mind of its own.<Ref name=chen/> For a gas to be considered a plasma it must be dominated by [[electromagnetic force]]s rather than collisions with neutral atoms. Therefore plasmas are often considered to be highly ionized, rather than allowing for weakly ionized gases to fit into the category.

==Applications of plasma physics==

Plasmas are very useful due to them covering a wide range of configurations; their particle [[density]] ranges over 28 orders of magnitude from <m>10^6</m> to <m>10^{34}</m> particles per cubic meter, and their energy ranges over 7 orders of magnitude.<ref name=chen/> Some applications include:

*'''Gas discharges''' - these are encountered in mercury rectifiers, ignitrons, spark gaps (ie. [[spark plug]]s), neon and fluorescent lights, and lightning.
*'''Controlled fusion''' - the beginnings for controlled [[nuclear fusion]] occurred in the mid 1950's after hydrogen bomb's fusion abilities were already known. The basic reactions involve the use of [[deuterium]] and [[tritium]] atoms colliding at high enough energies in order to fuse together. Plasmas are necessary for this in order to maintain high enough energies, however the problem of heating and containing a plasma [[efficiency|efficiently]] is still largely unresolved.<ref name=chen/>
*'''Space and astrophysics''' - the study of the solar wind that constantly bombards the Earth, responsible for the phenomena of Aurora Borealis, concerns plasma because this wind is highly ionized particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. The study of stellar dynamics also concerns plasma.

==References==
{{reflist}}