[__MatrixMan__]

I'm musing about the phrase:

> plasma is never "caused by" fusion

Which do you suppose comes first in a gravitational confinement scenario, plasma or fusion? It sorta seems like a chicken/egg scenario. I mean you gotta get those electrons out of the way, but where does he heat come from to do that, if not fusion?

[willis936]

Definitely plasma. Look at star formation in nebulae. Most of the hydrogen in them are in glow mode plasma. It takes a very small amount of energy to ionize plasma and a a huge amount to fuse it. So when stars are forming they might start as cold hydrogen, but they get progressively warmer and more dense until they ionize, then get even warmer and more dense, until they're burning.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_formation