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'''Plasma sources''' generate#REDIRECT [[Plasma (physics)|plasmas]].
Excitation of a plasma requires partial [[ionisation]] of neutral [[atom]]s and/or [[molecule]]s of a medium.
There are several ways to cause [[ionisation]]:
collisions of energetic particles, strong electric fields acting on bond
[[electron]]s, or ionising radiation. The [[kinetic energy]] for ionising collisions may come from the [[heat]] of chemical or nuclear reactions of the medium, as in [[flame]]s, for instance. Alternatively, already released charged particles may be accelerated by [[electric field]]s, generated electromagnetically or by radiation fields.
If at least as many [[charge carrier]]s are created per time unit as
recombine, the plasma can be sustained.
Plasma excitation by [[electromagnetic field]]s can be classified according to:
*[[Frequency classification of plasmas]]
*Energy coupling mode
**[[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]]
**[[Electrode-less plasma excitation]]
*Pressure range classification
**[[Low pressure discharge]]
**[[Atmospheric pressure discharge]]
Plasma sources have numerous technical applications, for instance in [[light generation]] and [[plasma processing]] of materials.
[[Category:Plasma physics]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.tectra-gmb.com/plasma-source.htm Plasma Source] as Atom Source, Ion Source and Atom/Ion Hybrid Source
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