#REDIRECT [[Plasma (physics)]]
Generation of a plasma requires ionisation of neutral atoms and/or molecules
of a medium. There are several ways to cause ionisation:
collisions of energetic particles, strong electric fields acting on bond
electrons, or ionising radiation. The kinetic energy for ionising collisions
may come from the heat of chemical or nuclear reactions of the medium, as in
flames, for instance. Alternatively, already released charged particles may be
accelerated by electric fields, generated electrically or by radiation fields.
If at least as many charge carriers are created per time unit as
recombine, the plasma can be sustained.
[[Plasma excitation by electromagnetic fields]]
*[[Frequency classification of plasmas]]
**[[Direct current (DC) discharge]]
**[[Pulsed DC discharge (kHz)]]
**[[Radio-frequency (RF) discharge (MHz)]]
**[[Microwave (MW) discharge (GHz)]]
**[[Optical frequencies (THz)]]
*[[Excitation modes]]
**[[Inductively coupled plasma]]
***[[Solenoid coil]]
***[[Planar coil]]
***[[Helical resonator]]
**[[Capacitively coupled plasma]]
***[[Parallel plate recator]]
**[[Wave-heated plasma]]
***[[Electron cyclotron resonance]]
***[[Helicon discharge]]
***[[Surface-wave-sustained mode]]
***[[Resonator mode]]
*[[Pressure ranges]]
**[[Low pressure discharge]]
**[[Atmospheric pressure discharge]]
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