# Plasma generated in a microwave? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 27, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147 "2006-03-27T20:42:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Level3Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Level3Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Level3Navigator)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/1 "2006-03-27T20:42:32Z")
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](http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060313.html) 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](http://jnaudin.free.fr/html/oa_plasmoid.htm), 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? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/2 "2006-03-27T20:53:54Z")
> [@Level3Navigator](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/3 "2006-03-27T20:58:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/4 "2006-03-27T21:30:42Z")
Heck, flames in air are a plasma-gas mixture, so you can create some plasma with just a burning match. ---
**Author:** ![MetroGnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e7dd6/32.png) [@MetroGnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MetroGnome)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/5 "2006-03-28T03:54:26Z")
It’s much easier [using a grape](http://c3po.barnesos.net/homepage/lpl/grapeplasma/). 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. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/6 "2006-03-28T04:00:10Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/7 "2006-03-28T09:05:30Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/8 "2006-03-29T06:02:18Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plasma-generated-in-a-microwave/350147/9 "2006-04-03T23:21:18Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > 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. **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**