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Title: Collisional damping of helicon waves in a high density hydrogen linear plasma device

Journal Article · · Plasma Sources Science and Technology
 [1];  [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Research School of Physics and Engineering ANU, Canberra (Australia)

In this paper, we investigate the propagation and damping of helicon waves along the length (~50 cm) of a helicon-produced 20 kW hydrogen plasma ( ~1-2 1019 m-3, ~1-6 eV, H2 8 mTorr) operated in a magnetic mirror configuration (antenna region: 50-200 G and mirror region: 800 G). Experimental results show the presence of traveling helicon waves (~10 G and ~ 10-15 cm) propagating away from the antenna region which become collisionally absorbed within 40 to 50 cm. We describe the use of the WKB method to calculate wave damping and provide an expression to assess its validity based on experimental measurements. By comparing theory and experiment, we show that for the conditions associated with this paper classical collisions are sufficient to explain the observed wave damping along the length of the plasma column. Based on these results, we provide an expression for the scaling of helicon wave damping relevant to high density discharges and discuss the location of surfaces for plasma-material interaction studies in our device (MAGPIE).

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1347309
Journal Information:
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, Vol. 25, Issue 5; ISSN 0963-0252
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 21 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (5)

Broad ion energy distributions in helicon wave-coupled helium plasma journal May 2017
Differential pumping requirements for the light-ion helicon source and heating systems of Proto-MPEX journal August 2018
Direct measurement of the transition from edge to core power coupling in a light-ion helicon source journal May 2018
Helicon normal modes in Proto-MPEX journal May 2018
High density negative hydrogen ion production in a high power pulsed helicon discharge journal October 2018

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