Thread: plasma ionisation

Hey guys,

Quick question,

Is plasma a state of ionisation? if so is it positive or negative?

if not ionised, would a spinning electromagnetic field be able to induce a magnetic force contained within the plasma? (spinning an electromagnet around a ball containing plasma at high velocity)

any help would be great,

thanks,

Liquidator

Your question hit me close to home: I logged on just to somehow suggest that the ionization that get beat to death in discussions of the ionosphere differs so much from the atmosphere's static negative charge that is partly born as negative ions upon atmospheric particles. We might suppose that what we call plasma is a mix of positive and negative ions that are being stimulated into their imbalance about as rapidly as they recombine into balanced atoms or molecules: Intensive concentrations are to be found in the heat of stellar gasses, and significant but rarified prescence exists within sunlit portions of our upper atmosphere. The mix of either polarity would seem to be the essential distiction between ions and plasma, with the incidental distinction of the smoothed-out distribution and feeble intensity of ions of static negative charge versus stark randomization of position and intensity for prescence of plasma.

These distinctions seem significant for realizations of the diverse effect upon radio communications. The uniform and spare distribution of negative charge supplies unencumbered routing of radio signals as opposed to the disruptive propagation paths encountered between our surface and the outer shell of electrons.

Originally Posted by liquidator

Hey guys,

Quick question,

Is plasma a state of ionisation? if so is it positive or negative?

A plasma is formed from a equal mix of positive ions and negative electrons. Overall it is electrically neutral.

if not ionised, would a spinning electromagnetic field be able to induce a magnetic force contained within the plasma? (spinning an electromagnet around a ball containing plasma at high velocity)

any help would be great,

thanks,

Liquidator

Plasma is made of an equal mix of positive ions and electrons. Overall, it is electrically neutral.

Originally Posted by Janus

Plasma is made of an equal mix of positive ions and electrons. Overall, it is electrically neutral.

Surely, that is the truth, but if a charge were added to a macroscopical neutral mass of plasma, need we fear contradiction for nevertheless calling that plasma plasma?