Speaker
Description
This work investigates the performance efficiency of three different RF
antenna configurations: Half-Helix, Nagoya-III, and simple helical (coil
type) in a permanent magnet-based Helicon Plasma Source (HPS) through
finite element-based simulations. These simulation studies on argon and
hydrogen plasmas focus on the wave coupling efficiency and power
absorption to evaluate antenna effectiveness by analyzing key parameters
such as plasma density and temperature. The simulations integrate
electromagnetic wave propagation, plasma-fluid interactions, and the
influence of the permanent ring magnet array on plasma production and
its dynamics. Results reveal distinct differences in plasma generation and
wave excitation characteristics, with the Nagoya-III antenna
demonstrating superior power coupling in specific operational regimes
compared to the other designs. These findings offer crucial insights for
optimizing RF antenna structures in Helicon plasma sources, which are
essential for the applications in ion beam generation, space propulsion,
and plasma processing technologies. The study serves as a valuable
reference for designing high-efficiency RF-driven ion sources.
