Author: Alain Dannaoui

Delivery of a high pressure ICP plasma source for annealing application at Annealsys

Annealsys is a leading manufacturer of RTP and DLI -CVD / DLI -ALD systems for research production applications in the fields of silicon and compound semiconductors, nanotechnologies, MEMS, solar cells, glass

Annealsys manufactures Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD/ALD) systems. Remote plasma sources are used to create the needed precursors for the desired applications. Helyssen’s high pressure ICP plasma source is used as remote plasma generator

Link to video

A breakthrough: First Ignition of the Helicon-based Radio-Frequency Inductive Plasma Thruster (IPT)

The Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the University of Stuttgart has developed a cutting edge plasma thruster based on Helyssen’s patented Helicon plasma source targeting “very low earth orbit” satellites (ABEP). The work has been carried out within the EU DISCOVERER project

“The ignition of the inductive plasma thruster at IRS is a breakthrough, as it is not only the first thruster of its kind but also the first cylindrical birdcage antenna driven helicon thruster in the world. The first tests showed very good power coupling efficiency and a plasma jet that can be seen in figure below. The next months will be dedicated to the respective plasma diagnostics to characterize the new IPT, and to evaluate the generated thrust.”

Link to the media release: https://www.irs.uni-stuttgart.de/en/institute/news/A-breakthrough-First-Ignition-of-the-Helicon-based-Radio-Frequency-Inductive-Plasma-Thruster-IPT/

Link to the theory paper: Helyssen based Helicon thruster

Figure 1 The Inductive Plasma Thruster IPT
Plasma thruster with Helyssen’s helicon plasma source
Figure 3 IPT plasma jet, Nitrogen as propellant.
Nitrogen plasma jet