text: what is plasma physics?   in physics and chemistry, a plasma is typically an ionized gas, and is usually considered to be a distinct phase of matter in contrast to solids, liquids, and gases because of its unique properties. "ionized" means that at least one electron has been dissociated from a proportion of the atoms or molecules. the free electric charges make the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields.  this fourth state of matter was first identified in a discharge tube (or crookes tube), and so described by sir william crookes in 1879 (he called it "radiant matter")]. the nature of the crookes tube "cathode ray" matter was subsequently identified by british physicist sir j.j. thomson in 1897], and dubbed "plasma" by irving langmuir in 1928 ], perhaps because it reminded him of a blood plasma]. langmuir wrote:  "except near the electrodes, where there are sheaths containing very few electrons, the ionized gas contains ions and electrons in about equal numbers so that the resultant space charge is very small. we shall use the name plasma to describe this region containing balanced charges of ions and electrons." plasma typically takes the form of neutral gas-like clouds or charged ion beams, but may also include dust and grains (called dusty plasmas). [5] they are typically formed by heating and ionizing a gas, stripping electrons away from atoms, thereby enabling the positive and negative charges to move freely.