PLASMA

Plasma

Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter . It comprises the major component of the Sun. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms, thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions. Ionization can be induced by other means, such as strong electromagnetic field applied with a laser or microwave generator, and is accompanied by the dissociation of molecular bonds, if present. Plasma can also be created by the application of an electric field on a gas, where the underlying process is the Townsend avalanche.

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plasma

Noun

  1. A state of matter consisting of partially ionized gas
  2. A clear component of blood or lymph containing fibrin
  3. Blood plasma, free of suspended cells, used in transfusions
  4. A variety of green quartz, used in ancient times for making engraved ornaments.
  5. A mixture of starch and glycerin, used as a substitute for ointments.
  6. A visual effect in which cycles of changing colours are warped in various ways to give the illusion of liquid organic movement.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: plasma
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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