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Where is most visible matter in the universe found in the plasma state?
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plasma
Learn about the PHELIX (Petawatt High-Energy Laser for Heavy Ion Experiments) laser at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. PHELIX is used for plasma and atomic physics research.
Most of the visible matter in the universe exists in the plasma state. This state of matter is found predominantly in the following locations:12
- Sun and stars: The vast majority of visible matter is concentrated within stars, which are composed of plasma.12
- Interplanetary and interstellar space: The media filling the spaces between planets and stars consist largely of plasma.12
- Outer atmospheres of planets: The outer layers of planetary atmospheres often exist in a plasma state.2
While plasma is less common on Earth, it is also present in phenomena such as auroras, lightning, and the ionosphere, as well as in human-made applications like welding arcs and fluorescent tubes.1