Erlangen 2026 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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P: Fachverband Plasmaphysik

P 16: Poster Session Plasma Physics

P 16.46: Poster

Donnerstag, 19. März 2026, 13:45–15:45, Redoutensaal

Simulation of a Birdcage Antenna for Efficient Helicon-Mode Excitation — •Bennet Schahl, Luis Herrera Queseda, Alf Köhn-Seemann, and Günter Tovar — IGVP, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Helicon discharges can generate plasma densities significantly higher than those of conventional radio-frequency sources at comparable input power, making them attractive for applications ranging from plasma wakefield accelerators and plasma propulsion to fusion-relevant experiments and semiconductor manufacturing. Helicon waves are bounded whistler waves belonging to the family of right-hand polarized waves.

Birdcage antennas offer a promising geometry for coupling RF power into magnetized low-temperature plasmas. They form resonant network structures consisting of repeated parallel assemblies of inductive and capacitive elements that support distinct sets of resonant modes. This work focuses on optimizing a birdcage antenna for efficient excitation of electromagnetic waves in the so-called "helicon regime".

The study is conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics with the primary objective of optimizing the birdcage antenna design. The electromagnetic properties of the antenna are modeled to identify parameters that maximize field structures favorable for helicon-mode excitation. Based on these optimized configurations, the model may optionally be extended to include a plasma domain, enabling the evaluation of power deposition, mode formation, and the resulting plasma response.

The combined results aim to guide the design of future experimental setups.

Keywords: Helicon waves; Birdcage antenna; high density plasma