Plasma generated in a microwave?

I had a co-worker come over and tell me how one can go about creating plasma using a microwave and a burning toothpick. Knowing the degree of complexity and engineering it takes to create true plasma (see Z machine for an example), I am a touch skeptical. I did a search on the boards here and didn’t see this subject, so I thought I would ask.

Googling a bit, I found a site that shows how to do this here, but again I would hazard a guess that what is being seen is more along the lines of ionized air.

Anyone out there heard of this (or done this)? Are we really dealing with a plasma, or is it something else?

I have done this, yes. It’s definitely a plasma; it’s extremely hot, enough so to where it will scorch the finish on the oven cavity if you don’t contain it inside a Pyrex glass container. Ordinary glass will shatter almost instantly from the heat. And it’s visually spectacular, as well. The photos of the phenomenon don’t do it justice.

Ionized air is a plasma. Really, it’s not all that hard to make a plasma. Making a superhot plasma capable of sustaining fusion, now that’s hard, and you’re not going to do that in a microwave. but if you just want a plasma, any plasma? No sweat.

Heck, flames in air are a plasma-gas mixture, so you can create some plasma with just a burning match.

It’s much easier using a grape.

I can’t remember the exact science behind it, but I remember when I first read about it, I immediately threw some pants on and headed out for some grapes.

So its a tinker-toy set up to attract attention to the Advanced

Reduced Drag Aircraft project site.

Sucker bait to get attention and sooner or later some of your hard earned bucks.

JLN labs also promotes other hokey science.

The ARDA site is an example site linked in Level3Navigator’s first post because it has photographs. I’m not sure why you’re associating Q.E.D.'s useful and relevant post with your opinions here. Whatever the merits or otherwise of ARDA, this particular tinkertoy works. You might as well snark at electromagnets because a “magnetic healing” website shows you how to make one.

Heh. I just tried this.

Very cool. I knew my wife wouldn’t approve so I waited until she went to bed, but the BUZZZZZZZ startled her and the cat anyway:

“Are you okay?!!?!”

“…yeah…”

“OK, I just heard this loud buzzing and Ziggy started growling!”

The buzz did startle me too, I admit. Much louder than I expected.
Fun! I love playing amateur mad scientist.

spingears. Sometimes I wonder if I’m reading the same thread you are.

Would you please try to contribute a bit more on the factual side when you post in General Questions, and leave out the pointless, unrelated, generally qvetching ones?

samclem