gas ionization processes

Gas ionization occurs when energy, such as from heat, electricity, or radiation, causes atoms or molecules in a gas to lose electrons, creating charged particles called ions and free electrons. This process transforms the neutral gas into a plasma—a state where charged particles move freely. Ionization is fundamental in devices like fluorescent lights, plasma screens, and for conducting electrical signals through gases. It happens when enough energy is supplied to overcome the atoms' or molecules' binding energy, resulting in a cascade of ionization events that sustain the conductive plasma state.