What is plasma?
Plasma is a gas-like state of matter containing charged particles after some electrons separate from atoms.
How it works and key principles
Formation and behavior: Adding sufficient energy to a gas can ionize it. Free electrons and positive ions respond to electric and magnetic fields, so plasma differs from an ordinary neutral gas. Its temperature, density and degree of ionization vary widely; not every plasma must be extremely hot.
Evidence, examples and limits
Examples and uses: Much of the visible matter in stars, including the Sun, is plasma. Lightning, some lamps and auroras also involve plasma. Fusion research studies magnetic confinement of hot plasma; useful energy production requires stability and favorable energy balance as well as heat.
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