The components of lightning

Abstract

Plasma is an ionized gas composed of a mixture of free electrons, positive ions, and neutral atoms or molecules. Ionization is the process by which the separation of electrons from atoms occurs through the application of certain external forces, which transforms the atoms into ions and frees electrons. Literally the production of ions (and, thus, free electrons), ionization can be achieved through two very common processes: heat (thermal ionization) and electric field (electrical ionization).