Wave propagation and absorption in a helicon plasma thruster and its plume

Abstract A two-dimensional, full-wave, frequency domain, cold plasma model is used to study electromagnetic power propagation and absorption in a helicon thruster, including its far plume region surrounding space. Results show that fraction of absorbed the region, deposition source essentially unperturbed by simulation domain size, presence metallic obstacles, or density environment. An electron–cyclotron resonance (ECR) surface always exists downstream effectively prevents radiation space beyond along plume. In an overdense environmental plasma, like one expected vacuum chamber, fields are fully evanescent this transition, chamber boundary conditions affect but little wavefields before surface. absence double wave regime transition at interface between hinders accurate numerical region.