To answer the question, one only needs to find a safe system that will hold the match upright. You can use, for example, the lid of the canister from a photographic film reel or a compacted breadcrumb. After placing the lit match in the center of the oven, turn on the microwave at full power. Within a few seconds, the flame of the phosphor breaks down into luminous globes . The same result is obtained with a toothpick!
The explanation. The ghostly globes of light that are observed are nothing other than plasma, the fourth state of aggregation of matter. This is made up of ionized atoms that have lost their electrons. The microwaves in the oven ensure that this ionization is not lost, that is, if an ionized atom captures an electron, the electromagnetic radiation releases it again. In this case, the function of the furnace is to maintain the source of plasma that flows from the match.
