Plasma window facts for kids
A plasma window is like an invisible wall made of super-hot gas called plasma. Imagine a force field! Scientists use strong magnetism to hold this plasma in a specific spot, usually in a flat, round shape.
This plasma can get so hot and thick that it can separate a vacuum (an empty space) from normal air. This is super useful because some special tools, like certain lasers, only work in a vacuum. But scientists often need to use these tools on things that are in regular air. A plasma window lets them create a vacuum without blocking the laser beam, because light can pass right through the plasma.
How Does a Plasma Window Work?
A plasma window is usually created at very high temperatures, around 15,000 kelvin. That's much hotter than the surface of the sun! The bigger you want the plasma window to be, the more energy you need. For every inch of its size, it needs about 20 kilowatts of energy.
The plasma window can glow in different colors. The color depends on the type of gas used to make the plasma.
Who Invented the Plasma Window?
The plasma window was invented by Ady Hershcovitch at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He received a patent for it in 1995. This invention opened the door for other similar technologies.
What is a Plasma Valve?
The Plasma Valve is a technology related to the plasma window. It was created a year after the plasma window. It uses a layer of gas inside a special container. A ring around this container helps keep a vacuum. If there's a problem, the technology can quickly shut down the machine to prevent any issues.
