Optical, wave measurements, and modeling of helicon plasmas over a wide range of magnetic fields

Abstract

Summary form only given, as follows. helix antenna operating at 13.56 MHz for static magnetic fields ranging from 200-1000 G1 Diagnostics include Langmuir, wave magnetic field, and optical probes, as well as electron energy analyzer and 105 GHz interferometly. The physics behind an apparent constant phase peak of the 443 nm AI II emission relative to the rf antenna drive current is investigated. This phenomenon, which occurs under higher magnetic fields, is contrasted against a traveling peak observed at lower magnetic field strengths. The transition point at which highdensity “blue mode” helicon operation begins is investigated to determine the plasma physics responsible. The I-dimensional ANTENA2 and the 2-dimensional MAXEB computational codes are used to model the wave electric and magnetic fields, with the latter capable of axial and radial variation in both the static magnetic field and plasma density 2 Also, an alternative experimental setup is designed for a nonuniform static magnetic field configuration to examine the effect on radial confinement and ionization.