The fourth state of matter: an introduction to plasma science

The aim of the second edition is to bring The Fourth State of Matter up to date in the light of progress. Sometimes progress is almost insignificant in ten years and sometimes, as in the field of plasmas, it is immense. The second edition includes a multitude of new discoveries and applications.

Familiar as we are with the three states of matter in our everyday surroundings - solid, liquid and gas - we may be surprised to find that most of the known universe is in a fourth state of matter. This fourth state of matter, known to physicists as plasma, is a fluid of electrically charged particles, often at very high temperatures.

It is the matter stars are made of, and at one time, in the early universe, it was the state in which all matter was found. It occurs on the earth as lightning discharges, and more prosaically, in fluorescent tubes. Most importantly research into plasma physics may lead us in the future to provide a supply of energy for the needs of mankind.

Readership

The Fourth State of Matter is a comprehensive overview of plasma physics for those starting out in their understanding of it and is intended for scientists and lay readers alike.