Plasma Electrons are free! … A fourth state of matter: Not gas, not liquid, not solid!
History, Terminology, & Discovery First identified by Sir William Crookes (1879) Termed by Irving Langmuir Ionosphere identified as plasma Van Allen Belts (1958)
Types of Plasma Artificially Induced Fluorescent lamps Neon Signs Plasma televisions Electric arcs (i.e. those created by a Marx generator,etc.) Laser-Produced Plasmas (LPP) Rocket exhaust Ion Thrusters Terrestrial & Astrophysical Stars (Sun) Ionosphere Aurora Borealis Lightning Most fires TLE
Plasma: A Fourth State of Matter Ionized “gas” Most are quasi-neutral Said: ~99% of matter Affected by E&M waves Characteristics Electron density: Temperature: Molecular Content Electron Plasma Frequency: Debye Length:
Plasma Physics Statistics, Mathematics, the Most General Case Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: particle density distribution Fluid Mechanics: Three particle, nonviscous intermingled fluids coupled through their equations of state and collision frequencies Maxwell’s Equations:
Wave Propagation Wave propagation highly dependent on electron plasma frequency: If then the wave propagates through If then the wave is deflected Propagation constant: Approaches free space value: Turns imaginary Deflection Case: Fields vary exponentially Phase-variation terms decay exponentially (the wave will decay as it propagates) e.g. Ionosphere reflects E&M radiation with frequency less than its plasma frequency
Example: If lightning were to propagate toward the ionosphere would it be deflected? Why or Why not? Ionosphere: Lightning: Answer: It will not be deflected as its frequency is larger than that of the ionosphere
References 1909, who valued professional, financial success as well as scientific inquiry, accomplishment, his summer position stretched into a lifelong career. He became known among his colleagues for his analytical mind, creativity, ambition, and excellent research skills.. "Irving Langmuir." Ziggo. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July "Brief History of Plasma Physics." Home Page for Richard Fitzpatrick. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July "Fields & Waves I v2." Plasma Dynamics Lab. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July "Plasma (physics)." 2008/9 Wikipedia Selection for schools. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July "Plasma Physics -- History." NASA Polar, Wind, and Geotail Projects. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June "Plasma Physics." National Ignition Facility & Photon Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 July Riegel, ron. "Irving Langmuir - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 June Uman, Martin A. Introduction to Plasma Physics. New York: McGraw-Hill, Print.