Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Plasma Astrophysics

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Plasma Astrophysics 1. Plasma vs. Gas Often, people use the terms 'plasma' and 'gas' interchangeably. However, there's a fundamental difference. While gases consist of neutral atoms or molecules, plasmas contain charged particles - ions and electrons. This distinction is vital as plasmas exhibit unique properties like conductivity and response to electromagnetic fields. 2. Ionization vs. Excitation Ionization and excitation are two processes that occur in plasmas. Ionization refers to the removal of electrons from atoms, resulting in the formation of ions. On the other hand, excitation involves the promotion of electrons to higher energy levels within an atom, without complete removal. Both processes play significant roles in plasma phenomena. 3. Magnetic Field vs. Electric Field Magnetic fields and electric fields are omnipresent in plasma astrophysics. While electric fields arise due to the presence of charges, magnetic fields are associated with moving charges. One key distinction is that magnetic fields can exist even in the absence of currents, unlike electric fields. 4. Fusion vs. Fission