Design of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma source for the space plasma environment research facility

The Space Plasma Environment Research Facility (SPERF) was built in Harbin to study the three-dimensional magnetic reconnection and wave-particle interactions relevant to space physics in laboratory settings. A 2.45 GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma source is adopted in the device to simulate the Earth’s magnetosphere and achieve the scientific goals. In this paper, the design of the ECR plasma source is presented. The structures of the microwave source, the microwave transfer system, and the antenna are introduced. Additionally, the resonant surfaces are computed to predict the locations of microwave absorption. The absorption mechanisms of the microwave in the SPERF are also discussed. The discharge experiment demonstrates the utility of the ECR source in simulating the Earth’s magnetosphere. The successful operation of the source indicates that the ECR discharge is a powerful tool for creating a plasma environment in a large plasma experimental device.