[Physics] Why is quasineutrality required for a gas to turn into a plasma

chargeionsplasma-physics

Why is quasineutrality a required condition for a plasma to exist?
Quasineutrality means that no density of electrons and ions should almost be equal but not exactly equal. Can anybody explain this this condition is required?

Best Answer

If the number of electrons and ions is exactly equal, it is still plasma. You are misunderstanding the quasineutrality requirement.

The term "plasma" was coined by Irving Langmuir with the phrase "We shall use the name plasma to describe this region containing balanced charges of ions and electrons", Oscillations in Ionized Gases Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S., vol. 14, p. 628, (1928)