Plasma is one of four fundamental
states of matter, characterized by the presence of a significant portion of
charged particles in any combination of
ions or
electrons. It is the most abundant form of ordinary
matter in the universe, being mostly associated with stars, including the Sun. Extending to the rarefied
intracluster medium and possibly to
intergalactic regions, plasma can be artificially generated by heating a neutral gas or subjecting it to a strong
electromagnetic field. The presence of charged particles makes plasma
electrically conductive, and its response to electromagnetic fields is used in many modern devices and technologies, such as
plasma televisions or
plasma etching. This photograph shows a
plasma ball, a clear glass container filled with a mixture of various
noble gases with a
high-voltage electrode in the center of the container. When
voltage is applied, a plasma is formed within the container. Plasma filaments extend from the inner
electrode to the outer glass
insulator, giving the appearance of multiple constant beams of colored light. Plasma balls were popular as novelty items in the 1980s.Photograph credit:
Colin
Plasma is one of four fundamental
states of matter, characterized by the presence of a significant portion of
charged particles in any combination of
ions or
electrons. It is the most abundant form of ordinary
matter in the universe, being mostly associated with stars, including the Sun. Extending to the rarefied
intracluster medium and possibly to
intergalactic regions, plasma can be artificially generated by heating a neutral gas or subjecting it to a strong
electromagnetic field. The presence of charged particles makes plasma
electrically conductive, and its response to electromagnetic fields is used in many modern devices and technologies, such as
plasma televisions or
plasma etching. This photograph shows a
plasma ball, a clear glass container filled with a mixture of various
noble gases with a
high-voltage electrode in the center of the container. When
voltage is applied, a plasma is formed within the container. Plasma filaments extend from the inner
electrode to the outer glass
insulator, giving the appearance of multiple constant beams of colored light. Plasma balls were popular as novelty items in the 1980s.Photograph credit:
Colin