Development of Space Propulsion Experiment (SPEX) Device with a Helicon Plasma Source

Summary form only given. The helicon plasma source has been developed for the Space Propulsion Experiments (SPEX) with 13.56 MHz RF frequency. This plasma source is attached in the DiPS (Diversified Plasma Simulator). The SPEX is composed of three parts such as helicon source, magnetic compression region and expansion region. The magnetic field geometry is similar to the VASIMR concept but its magnitude is different such as 500 G (at source region), 1.5 kG (at magnetic compression region). Helicon plasma is generated by the m= 1 antenna with the diameter of 4 cm and 12 cm long. The initial plasma parameter has been measured by the optical emission spectroscopy and single Langmuir probe with axial position (compression and expansion region), magnetic field intensity, operating pressure and operating gases (He and Ar).