Optimization of antenna-plasma interaction in a Helicon plasma thruster

Radiofrequency (RF) magnetized Helicon plasma sources have been proposed for the development of space thrusters, whose thrust efficiency and specific impulse depend on the power coupled into the plasma by the RF antenna. To date emphasis has been on the absorption of wave energy by nonuniform plasmas but not much on the role played by the antenna. To fill this gap, we propose a full-wave numerical tool, ADAMANT (Advanced coDe for Anisotropic Media and ANTennas), devised for the analysis and design of RF antennas which drive the discharge in Helicon plasma sources. Results concerning the antenna current distribution and power coupled into the plasma for different antenna configurations and plasma parameters are presented