Experimental study of coupling of low-frequency electromagnetic waves with plasma in strong magnetic field

Helicons (circularly-polarized electromagnetic waves) propagate in a plasma with density exceeded cut-off for its frequency, and provide effective energy delivery to plasma. Accordingly, helicon discharge is one of the most suitable way for production of high-density low-temperature plasma. Helicon plasma sources, operating in the MHz frequency range and respectively low magnetic fields (0.01-0.1 T), capable to create plasma with density up to 1013 cm−3. At the same time, next generation of linear plasma facilities for both for PMI studies and fusion applications requires production of plasma with density above this limit. Theoretical studies predict that such increasing of density can be achieved by application of powerful microwave sources of GHz range frequency. The aim of the presented experiments is experimental verification of theoretical predictions and search of conditions for effective delivery of electromagnetic power to plasma towards development of stationary source of dense plasma for linear ...