Large Helicon Plasma Source for the Method of Plasma Separation of Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste.

This paper outlines the requirements for a source of buffer plasma, which is necessary for elaboration of plasma separation method of substances and following foundations development of plasma reprocessing technology of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Such source is implemented on the basis of a helicon discharge, allowing plasma generation in a cylindrical volume with characteristic dimensions on the order of 1 m and bounded by metal walls. At plasma-forming gas (argon) pressure of 1 mTorr, radial profiles of density $n_{e}$ and temperature $T_{e}$ of electrons were obtained for various magnetic field magnitudes (0–200 G) and RF power (up to 6 kW) using double probe and optical methods. The typical value of $T_{e}$ amounted to eV units and $n_{e}$ was about 1012 cm−3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]