UNM Plasma and Fusion Science Lab

HELCAT Plasma Device Photo Gallery

The HELCAT (Helicon-Cathode) plasma device is 4 meters long and 50 cm in diameter. 

Water cooled coils (orange below) surround the vacuum chamber, and produce an axial

magnetic field B up to 2 kG.  HELCAT is so-named because it has two independent plasma

sources - one at each end of the device.  An RF (10 - 20 MHz) Helicon source is located at

the south end, and a BaO coated Ni thermionic cathode resides at the north end.

Approximate plasma parameters are as follows.

Magnetic field, B0              < 2 kG

Helicon:

Density, n                           10^19 m^-3

Electron temperature, Te    10 eV

Ion temperature, Ti             ~ 0.1 eV

Plasma Radius (FWHM)     7 - 8 cm

Neutral fill pressure             ~ 1-5 mTorr

Cathode:

Density, n                           10^18 m^-3

Electron temperature, Te    10 eV

Ion temperature, Ti             ~ 1 eV

Plasma Radius (FWHM)     7 - 10 cm

Neutral fill pressure             ~ 10^-4 Torr

Schematic of the HELCAT device, showing turbulent transport active feedback control system	HELCAT device shown from the RF helicon source end
HELCAT device shown from the thermionic cathode end	Helicon-generated argon plasma seen through the first few ports at the helicon end
Argon plasma at the helical RF antenna	Cathode-generated plasma in the 1 meter device operated last year prior to construction of the 4 meter device