Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar 382 428, Gujarat (India)

The 4th State of Matter Plasma in Nature

Sun Flairs Lightening

֍ Observable matter exists in four forms: Solids, Liquids, Gas and Plasma ֍
Plasma, the 4th State, is the highest energy state of the matter. ֍ Matter attains its
different forms depending upon the energy levels it has reached ֍ On continuous
heating / energising to higher levels Solids turn to liquids, Liquid to gas and gas
into to plasma state. ֍ Plasma state is that condition where electrons and atomic
constituents have gained sufficient energy to remain disassociated from one Aurora Interstellar Gases

another. ֍ Depending upon the degree of ionization plasma are varied as mix of
֍ Natural occurrence of Plasma in normal terrestrial
(a) electrons and Ions (b) electrons and protons and neutrons (c) Electrons and
nucleons etc. ֍ In the absence of sufficient sustaining power plasma constituents conditions is not common. Auroras observed at the
recombine to form neutral gas ֍ Plasma consists 99 % of the observable universe. northern and southern hemispheres of earth and the
90% of the mass of the universe is considered to be contained in "dark matter" lightening streams are such natural plasma. Stars
composition and state of which are still unknown. ֍ including Sun and the interstellar gases are all in plasma
state.
Man Made Plasmas Plasma Temperatures and densities

Propulsion systems like Aero jet, Arc jet, Hall thruster

Neon Lamp

Plasma Globe

Tokamak Plasma

Sandia National laboratory Z machine Flashovers

Plasma glow discharge http://plasmauniverse.info/ubiquitous.html
Wikipedia, edited Wikipedia edited

֍ Sir William Crookes identified ֍ Crooks Tube invented by

plasma as a state of matter in 1879. Sir William Crooks is
֍ In 1929, Nobel Laureate Irving considered as the first ever
Langmuir gave the name, plasma, as plasma device ֍ This
Historical

it resembled blood plasma witch System demonstrated the

Wikipedia
֍ High voltage applied across
has many constituents. ֍ James production of plasma, basic electrodes ionize the gas forming
Clerk Maxwell and Hendrik Lorentz William Crookes Irving Langmuir observable characteristics in plasma. Accelerated electrons of
Electromagnetic theories and forces magnetic and electric fields, the plasma do not reach the
gave basic explantion to plasma the diffusion process etc. ֍ screen due to the obstacle placed
characteristics. ֍ Prof.Meghnad This invention led to the in-between and so cast a
Saha and Hendrik Lorentz laid the discovery of Cathode ray shadow. When a magnet brought
foundation in understanding the tube displays and many near the plasma the electron
complexity of plasma and its related devices, generation beam bends and so the shadow is
behaviour. ֍ James Clerk Maxwell Meghnad Saha of X-Rays etc.. ֍ seen moving downward.

֍ A medium for near ֍ Physics has generated new avenues

endless source of energy of basic sciences. Studies in
and research in frontiers of turbulence have contributed for safe
science in understanding air travel. Extremely cold plasmas
nature and universe, that condense to crystalline states are
֍ Food production and new discoveries. Laser–plasma
Why Understanding Plasma Physics is Very
storage, solid waste interactions and table-top high energy
Important ? management, space particle accelerations have enormous
exploration and travel applications. plasma chemistry and
֍ Engineering Industrial plasma–surface interaction based
applications and
industrial processes are on the anvil.
manufacturing process ֍
Plasma medicine is another fast
Environmental protection
emerging area.
and safeguards
Illustrations owed to Internet websites and readily available on image search with related keywords NCSTC OUTREACH- 2017-2018-P01