The resistance peak of helicon plasmas at low magnetic fields

The dispersion characteristics of the radial eigenmodes and resistive loading of helicon plasmas are studied to explain the occurrence of the density peak at low magnetic fields. The plasma resistance is usually found to be large for the eigenmodes near the magnetic field where the fast and slow waves are coupled and can be peaked at low magnetic fields depending on the antenna configuration. It is explained how reflection of the waves at an axial end causes the resistance peak at low magnetic fields for a single loop antenna and the Nagoya type III or helical antenna itself can give rise to the resistance peak regardless of reflection. Finally, the dependence of the resistance peak on the density and the wave frequency is examined to show that the general trend is consistent with experimental observations. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.