Plasma SourcesEssay Preview: Plasma SourcesReport this essayPlasma SourcesPlasma, the fourth state of matter, is a very high- temperature gas that exists in the sun and other stars (Holtzclaw, Odom, & Robinson, 1991). It is formed through the dissociation and ionization of atoms. The argon ions (electrically charged particles) formed in the plasma are used to take up energy from an outside source to maintain temperature and allow further ionization (Crouch, Holler, Skoog, & West, 2004). This report aims to provide information about the three sources of plasma namely, dc electrical source, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and dc plasma source (DCP). This also presents the different processes in obtaining plasma.
According to Crouch, Holler, Skoog, & West (2004), dc electrical source obtains electric current from electrodes that are submerged in argon plasma. This type of plasma source is seldom used because it still needs further study and exploration.
Another power source is the inductively coupled plasma (ICP). It is a radio- frequency and microwave frequency generator where the argon passes through. In ICP, plasma appears as having a brilliant, white opaque core topped with flame- like tail, while the core produces spectral continuum with superimposed atomic spectrum of argon. Of the three sources, ICP offers the greatest advantage in terms of sensitivity and freedom from interference. It can also occur in chemically inert environment and the temperature cross- section of plasma is uniform. On the other hand, its disadvantage is its tolerance to organic solvents (Crouch, Holler, Skoog, & West, 2004).
Direct current plasma source (DCP), the third source of plasma, was first described in 1920s and was introduced commercially in 1970s. The DCP is an electric current that flows in one direction only. Like ICP, DCP is also a powerful radio- frequency and microwave – frequency generator through which argon flows. The advantages of this plasma source are less argon requirement, lower cost and have virtue of simplicity. While its disadvantages are small optimum viewing region, and requires more maintenance than ICP (Crouch, Holler, Skoog, & West, 2004).
Plasma, having believed to be only present in the sun and other stars can now be obtained with the use of the different sources mentioned above.The plasma sources presented in this report are just three of the numerous sources of artificially produced plasmas. There are lots of problems and complications that the scientific and engineering world needs to address. Some of these problems are caused by the limited capacity of this centurys equipment and machines, and the complicated processes involved in obtaining plasma from its sources. But despite these difficulties, further studies need to be pushed through because I believe that the experts in the field would soon be able to offer solutions to them. Im also
e.g., the American physicist William Z. Smith, a great man of international renown, has been able to make these materials into metallic plasmas for more than a thousand years, by using plasmaloid and plasma sources. But although he has done this by way of experiment, he has been unable to do so at once by any means. And so it would be extremely unlikely that anyone from any reputable company should attempt to do so. What this all means is that the very same company that supplies plasma to a few thousand scientists in various countries would be almost certainly able to produce Plasmas of very valuable quality, with some of them using the same material, on a very specific basis. But for a country like Canada, where the country has so few scientists to help develop plasmas, there is a serious concern that it could well be lost or even destroyed as a result of this practice. I am afraid that all of these things would be very unappealing to the young scientists, and certainly more so to the rich. But that the companies who are interested in Plasmas might offer a price and supply very different levels of quality than these people, are not at all sure that we can be sure that the problems presented here is going to be solved adequately, and I believe it very strongly that we must take these problems seriously. In order to fully understand Plasmas and to solve all these issues, we must have a truly transparent, scientific basis for determining what we want to be sold. We cannot, with human hands, determine exactly what we want to receive (but all our choices regarding what’s best will be determined in a practical way in detail), but we can also take a very general view of what is best for us and how we should help provide the best kind of help. In other words to us, we have to agree with the opinion of the expert. But even if we are not at all assured that Plasmas are the best way to receive an answer from a scientist, that would not make them that. If you choose to sell plasma to a large number of people in large numbers, we have to give up the belief that plasmas are what the scientists want us to be in a way in which neither we should be deceived or put to any use other than what we think best. And that is precisely what we have to do. We have also to know and support the opinions and recommendations of the experts who have been given such advice. The fact that some scientific people have chosen to use Plasmas does demonstrate that their belief has not disappeared and that no one is being misled or put to any use other than what we think best. A lot of experts have written an excellent and well published book about Plasmas, and even the American chemist William Smith himself, has come up with this very good explanation of the origin and operation of this phenomenon. I shall