Definition of the Plasma State

Abstract

The plasma state emerges from ionization of neutral atoms. In thermodynamic equilibrium, free particles attain a Maxwell distribution, atomic states are populated according to a Boltzmann distribution, and the ionization equilibrium is described by the Saha equation. The most important property of a plasma is its quasineutrality. Ideal plasmas show collective behavior in terms of Debye shielding or plasma oscillations. Plasmas are found over ten decades in temperature and 25 decades in plasma density. Non-ideal plasmas can be determined by strong-coupling effects and by quantum effects.