Helicon plasma sources produce very high density plasmas by radio frequency excitation in the presence of a magnetic field. They attracted considerable attention for various applications such as plasma thrusters, plasma wall-material testing devices, accelerators (for neutral beam injection or as wake-field accerators). 

Our research focuses on

• the propagation and absorption of the helicon wave
• its coupling with other modes and instabilities
• transport and turbulence
• neutral particle depletion
• the influence of incomplete magnetization
• effects of mass separation