The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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In the discharge units, cold plasma is created between two electrodes as the air between them is ionised. In this video, the discharger has a cylindrical outer electrode and a thin, rod-like inner electrode. The unit is seen here from the end, so it appears as an outer ring and an inner point.
With no magnetic field, the plasma discharge (seen here as purple) would form between random points on each electrode. However, when a magnet field is applied, the plasma spreads out into a disc, as seen when the unit is switched off and on in the middle of the video.