Development of high-density helicon plasma sources and their applications
- Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580 (Japan)
- Research Institute of Science and Technology, Tokai University, 1117 Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292 (Japan)
- Institute of Symbiotic Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 185-8588 (Japan)
- Institute for Nuclear Research, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 47 Prospect Nauki, Kiev 03680 (Ukraine)
We report on the development of unique, high-density helicon plasma sources and describe their applications. Characterization of one of the largest helicon plasma sources yet constructed is made. Scalings of the particle production efficiency are derived from various plasma production devices in open literature and our own data from long and short cylinder devices, i.e., high and low values of the aspect ratio A (the ratio of the axial length to the diameter), considering the power balance in the framework of a simple diffusion model. A high plasma production efficiency is demonstrated, and we clarify the structures of the excited waves in the low A region down to 0.075 (the large device diameter of 73.8 cm with the axial length as short as 5.5 cm). We describe the application to plasma propulsion using a new concept that employs no electrodes. A very small diameter (2.5 cm) helicon plasma with 10{sup 13} cm{sup -3} density is produced, and the preliminary results of electromagnetic plasma acceleration are briefly described.
- OSTI ID:
- 21277195
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 16, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3096787; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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