Conceptual design of a permanent ring magnet-based helicon plasma source

The Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) (India) has initiated a multi-driver based large size helicon negative ion source R&D program. The program is initiated through a single driver helicon plasma source having permanent ring magnet for the necessary axial magnetic field. A conceptual model for the design of a helicon plasma source is described along with the modeling of the design. Following the design by analysis approach, source parameters are optimized and expected source performances are simulated. These simulations and calculations are done using the computer code RELIC, with a view of development of a helicon plasma source using hydrogen gas. The magnetic field topology for the ring magnet is simulated with another code (BFieldM) and the results obtained are used in the simulation.