Investigation of Plasma Flow Characteristics during Helicon Discharge Generation in a Multicusp Magnetic Trap

Authors

  • Quang Vin Tran
  • Sergey D. Fedorovich
  • Vyacheslav P. Budaev
  • Dmitriy I. Kavyrshin
  • Mikhail V. Lukashevsky
  • Konstantin A. Rogozin
  • Yaroslav A. Golov
  • Leonid V. Lebedinsky
  • Anna T. Goginashvili

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24160/1993-6982-2026-3-119-129

Keywords:

steady-state plasma discharge, plasma linear multicusp, helicon antenna, electric probe, plasma electron temperature, plasma density

Abstract

Experimental studies were conducted on the PLM-M (Plasma Linear Multicusp) facility to identify operating modes for efficient generation and acceleration of plasma flows using a helicon antenna for high-frequency plasma heating and acceleration. Plasma parameters were diagnosed using a Langmuir electric probe. A range of operating pressures for the plasma-forming gas has been identified, at which the plasma flow parameters, including density and Mach number, reach their maximum values. The Mach number dependence on the plasma-forming gas pressure for various discharge modes has been obtained. The thrust of the plasma flow expanding from the magnetic confinement zone into the receiver chamber free vacuum volume has been measured.

Author Biographies

Quang Vin Tran

Junior Research Assistant of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI, e-mail: slavachern95@yandex.ru

Sergey D. Fedorovich

Dr.Sci. (Techn.), Professor of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI, e-mail: fedorovichsd@mail.ru

Vyacheslav P. Budaev

Dr.Sci. (Phys.-Math.), Professor of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI; Head of Advanced Projects and Technologies Dept., NRC «Kurchatov Institute», e-mail: budaev@mail.ru

Dmitriy I. Kavyrshin

Ph.D. (Phys.-Math.), Assistant Professor of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI; Senior Researcher, Joint Institute for High Temperatures of the Russian Academy of Sciences, e-mail: dimakav@rambler.ru

Mikhail V. Lukashevsky

Ph.D. (Techn.), Assistant Professor of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI, e-mail: lukashevsky-m@yandex.ru

Konstantin A. Rogozin

Engineer of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI; NRC «Kurchatov Institute», e-mail: RogozinKA@mpei.ru

Yaroslav A. Golov

Technician of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI; NRC «Kurchatov Institute», e-mail: GolovYA@mpei.ru

Leonid V. Lebedinsky

Technician of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI; NRC «Kurchatov Institute», e-mail: LebedinskyLV@mpei.ru

Anna T. Goginashvili

Technician of General Physics and Nuclear Fusion Dept., NRU MPEI, e-mail: GoginashviliAT@mpei.ru

References

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Для цитирования: Чан К.В., Федорович С.Д., Будаев В.П., Кавыршин Д.И., Лукашевский М.В., Рогозин К.А., Голов Я.А., Лебединский Л.В., Гогинашвили А.Т. Исследование характеристик потока плазмы при генерации геликонного разряда в мультикасповой магнитной ловушке // Вестник МЭИ. 2026. № 3. С. 119—129. DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-3-119-129

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Работа выполнена в рамках Госзадания № FSWF-2025-0001

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1. Koval'chuk M.V., Il'gisonis V.I., Kulygin V.M. Plazmennye Dvigateli i Budushchee Kosmonavtiki. Priroda. 2017;12:33—44. (in Russian).

2. Andreescu A.-M.T. e. a. Development and Testing of a Helicon Plasma Thruster Based on a Magnetically Enhanced Inductively Coupled Plasma Reactor Operating in a Multi-mode Regime. Appl. Sci. 2024;14(18):8308.

3. Budaev V.P. i dr. Ispytaniya Vol'framovoy Oblitsovki Divertora v Plazmennoy Ustanovke PLM. Voprosy Atomnoy Nauki i Tekhniki. Seriya «Termoyadernyy Sintez». 2024;47(2):49—57. (in Russian).

4. Godyak V.A., Piejak R.B., Alexandrovich B.M. Probe Diagnostics of Non-Maxwellian Plasmas. J. Appl. Phys. 1993;73(8):3657—3663.

5. Godyak V.A., Demidov V.I. Probe Measurements of Electron-energy Distributions in Plasmas: What can We Measure and How can We Achieve Reliable Results? J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 2011;44(23):233001.

6. Crowley B. e. a. Measurement of the Electron Energy Distribution Function by a Langmuir Probe in an ITER-like Hydrogen Negative Ion Source. Nuclear Fusion. 2006;46(6):S307—S312.

7. Branner G.R., Friar E.M., Medicus G. Automatic Plotting Device for the Second Derivative of Langmuir Probe Curves. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 1963;34(3):231—237.

8. Demidov V.I., Ratynskaia S.V., Rypdal K. Electric Probes for Plasmas: the Link between Theory and Instrument. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 2002;73(10):3409—3439.

9. Magnus F., Gudmundsson J.T. Digital Smoothing of the Langmuir Probe I−V Characteristic. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 2008;79(7):073503.

10. Chen F.F. Helicon Discharges and Sources: a Review. Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 2015;24(1):014001.

11. Kuz'min E.I., Shihovtsev I.V. Gelikonnyy Istochnik Plotnoy Plazmy dlya Lineynyh Plazmennyh Ustanovok. Fizika Plazmy. 2021;47(6):507—517. (in Russian).

12. Zepp M., Granetzny M., Schmitz O. Density and Particle Sourcing Optimization in a Helicon Plasma Source Prototype for Wakefield Accelerator Applications. Phys. Plasmas. 2026;33(1):013506.

13. Inutake M. e. a. Development of Supersonic Plasma Flows by Use of a Magnetic Nozzle and an ICRF Heating. Proc. XII Intern. Congress Plasma Phys. Nice, 2004

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For citation: Tran Q.V., Fedorovich S.D., Budaev V.P., Kavyrshin D.I., Lukashevsky M.V., Rogozin K.A., Golov Ya.A., Lebedinsky L.V., Goginashvili A.T. Investigation of Plasma Flow Characteristics during Helicon Discharge Generation in a Multicusp Magnetic Trap. Bulletin of MPEI. 2026;3:119—129. (in Russian). DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-3-119-129

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The Work was Carried Out as Part of State Task No. FSWF-2025-0001.

Published

2026-06-14

Issue

Section

Theoretical and Applied Heat Engineering (Technical Sciences) (2.4.6)