Lecture 1st

Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics

For fo
4th studente

Q1: What is Plasma?

Answer

Plasma is considered the fourth state of matter. The three other states are solid,
liquid, and gas. Plasma is a cloud of protons, neutrons and electrons where all
the electrons have come loose from their respective molecules and atoms,
giving the plasma the ability to act as a whole rather than as a bunch of atoms.
A plasma is more like a gas than any of the other states of matter because the
atoms are not in constant contact with each other, but it behaves differently
from a gas. It has what scientists call collective behavior. This means that the
plasma can flow like a liquid or it can contain areas that are like clumps of
atoms sticking together.

On the other hand

Plasmas are the most common phase of matter . Some estimates suggest
that up to 99% of the entire visible universe is plasma. Since the space
between the stars is filled with a plasma, albeit a very sparse one
(see interstellar medium and intergalactic space), essentially the entire
volume of the universe is plasma .In the solar system, the planet Jupiter
accounts for most of the non-plasma, only about 0.1% of the mass and
10−15% of the volume within the orbit of Pluto. Notable plasma
physicistHannes Alfvén also noted that due to their electric charge, very
small grains also behave as ions and form part of plasma

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 Lecture 1st
Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics
For fo
4th studente

Q2: What is plasma physics and why do I need to know?

Answer:

The understanding and use of plasmas is entering a Golden Age. Profound

new insights into the behavior of solar and stellar phenomenon, exciting
advances in fusion energy research and development, and the technological
applications of plasmas will play an increasing role in 21st century science
and research. The world your students are growing into will greatly benefit
from evolving plasma-related technologies and new discoveries in the
basic behavior of plasmas.

Q3: So what is plasma and what do plasma physicists do?

Answer:

Although most students can name three states of matter (solid, liquid, gas),
relatively few know a fourth state the plasma state exists and it makes up
almost all of the visible universe. Lightning, the aurora borealis and some
forms of lighting (neon and fluorescent) are just three examples of plasma
a glowing ionized gas with unique behavior. Plasma physicists study how
plasma behaves. Their research provides data that leads to new answers to
old problems.

Q4: How is plasma used?

Answer

Scientists and engineers have utilized plasmas for many decades. Plasma
is used for welding, sterilizing medical instruments, lighting homes,
cleaning up pollution, purifying contaminated water and treating harmful

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 Lecture 1st
Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics
For fo
4th studente

wastes. A clear understanding of plasma science is essential for fusion

energy research.

Q5: How do plasmas fit into my science curriculum?

Answer:

Activities support content in the following areas:

• properties of heat, light and sound

• properties of waves
• the structure of matter
• electric and magnetic field interactions with plasma
• the nature of changes in matter
• energy, force, and motion
• how matter becomes energy during nuclear reactions
• the electromagnetic spectrum
• fusion processes in stars and the laboratory

Q6: What is the Saha equation and what is its purpose?

Answer:

𝒏𝒊 𝟐𝟏
𝑻𝟑/𝟐 −𝑼 /𝑲𝑻
≈ 𝟐. 𝟒 𝒙 𝟏𝟎 𝒆 𝒊
𝒏𝒏 𝒏𝒊
The reason for this can be seen from the Saha equation, which tells us the
amount of ionization to be expected in a gas in thermal equilibrium:
Here ni and nn are, respectively, the density (number per m 3) of ionized
atoms and of neutral atoms, T is the gas temperature in oK, K is
Boltzmann’s constant, and Ui is the ionization energy of the gas—that is,

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 Lecture 1st
Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics
For fo
4th studente

the number of joules required to remove the outermost electron from an

atom.

Q7: What are the meaning of quasineutrality and collective

behavior?

Answer

Any ionized gas cannot be called a plasma, of course; there is always some
small degree of ionization in any gas. A useful definition is as follows:
A plasma is a quasineutral gas of charged and neutral particles which
exhibits collective behavior.

The plasma wants to remain quasi neutral and in equilibrium there is no

electrical force. Now perturb that equilibrium by separating the electron
charges ever so slightly from the ion charges. This will setup a restoring
force that will pull the plasma back toward the equilibrium. But the plasma
momentum will cause it to overshoot the equilibrium point and continue
until the restoring force is the opposite sign. The plasma charges now will
oscillate back to the original perturbation position and the cycle repeats.
This is called a plasma oscillation and the frequency of the oscillation is
the plasma frequency. A plasma oscillation is an example of collective
plasma behavior

Q8: How does that happen Ionization and Recombination

A gas to become conductor, its neutral molecules or atoms must be

converted into ions. Ionization may be effected by short-wave radiation,
i.e. by ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma rays, and also by alpha, beta, and
cosmic rays. Electrical conduction due to external radiation is sometimes
called non-self maintaining conduction.
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 Lecture 1st
Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics
For fo
4th studente

To investigate a gas of volume 𝑉 and number of molecules 𝑁0 , the

molecule concentration, is 𝑛0 = 𝑁0 /𝑉. We denote the ions like sign by 𝑁𝑖 ,
their concentration is 𝑛𝑖 = 𝑁𝑖 /𝑉. The ratio of the number of ions to the
total number of molecules is called ionization coefficient, 𝜶 = 𝑵𝒊 /𝑵𝟎 =
𝒏/𝒏𝟎 . In non self maintaining conduction, the ionization coefficient of
gases is usually very low: 𝜶 ≈ 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 − 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟎 .

The number of neutral (non-ionized) molecules is:

𝐍𝐧 = 𝐍𝟎 − 𝐍𝐢 = 𝐍𝟎 (𝟏 − 𝛂) ≈ 𝐍𝟎 … … … … … … . … (𝟏)

And the same is true of the concentration 𝐧𝐧 ≈ 𝐧𝟎 .

Suppose that the action of some kind of rays during the time ∆𝑡 produces
in volume 𝑉, a number of ions:

∆𝑁𝑖 = 𝛽𝑁𝑛 ∆𝑡 ≈ 𝛽𝑁0 ∆𝑡 ≈ 𝛽𝑛0 𝑉∆𝑡 … … … … . . . . (𝟐)

Where β is the second ionization coefficient, which depends on the energy

of the ionizer. The ionization process is accompanied by reverse process,
the recombination of ions. In the latter, a neutral atoms or molecule is
formed when a positive ion collides with an electron. Hence:

∆𝑵𝒓𝒆𝒄 = 𝜸 𝑵𝒊 𝟐 ∆𝒕 / 𝑽 = 𝜸𝒏𝒊 𝟐 𝑽 ∆𝒕 … … . … … … … (𝟑)

Where 𝛾 is the recombination coefficient, which depends upon the kind of

gas being ionized.

When a certain time has elapsed after the beginning of ionization,

the rate of recombination ∆𝑁𝑟𝑒𝑐 /∆𝑡 becomes equal to the rate of ionization
∆𝑁𝑖 /∆𝑡, and a dynamic equilibrium is established in the gas. This state
corresponds to a definite ion concentration which can be found by equating
expressions (4) and (3). Thus

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 Lecture 1st
Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics
For fo
4th studente

𝒏𝒊 = (𝜷𝒏𝟎 / 𝜸 ) … … … . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . … . . . . . . . . . (4)

Q9: What are the methods of ionizing air or gas and explain one of
them.
Answer
1-Particle Impact Ionization
2- Thermal Ionization
3- Nuclear Emission
4-Photo or Irradiative Ionization
5-Electric Field Ionization:
(a) Arc Discharge Ionization
(b) Corona Discharge Ionization

2-Thermal Ionization
All matter above 10,000 K exists in the plasma state. And fire is filled with
ions and free radicals. If a gas is heated to suitably high temperatures the
energies of the gas constituents become high enough to induce ionization
within the medium. The requirement of such high temperatures and the
problem of contaminants in air make this an impractical approach for this
study.

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 Lecture 1st
Prof.Dr.kadhim A.Aadim Question and Answerin Plasm Physics
For fo
4th studente

Q10: Describe the curve current and voltage characteristics

for electric discharge regions
Answer