Ion cyclotron resonant heating in a helicon plasma source

Summary form only given. An ion cyclotron resonant heating system has been developed for heating ions and controlling the ion temperature anisotropy in a helicon plasma source. Because of the very low frequency waves used, approximately 50 kHz, particular care has been taken with impedance matching of the antenna. The antenna is driven with a 1000 W source over a frequency range of 25-125 kHz. The parallel and perpendicular ion temperatures in argon plasmas are measured with a laser induced fluorescence diagnostic tuned to a metastable argon ion transition. Measurements of the efficiency of ion heating has been accomplished for several different antenna geometries. Data for both perpendicular and parallel temperatures at the fundamental and second harmonic ion cyclotron frequencies will be presented.