Method and device for exciting a plasma using microwaves at the electronic cyclotronic resonance

A device for producing a homogenous, isotropic and field-free plasma of large volume and high-density, comprising:

• a tight enclosure connected to a pumping circuit and to a circuit for introducing a gaseous medium, the pumping circuit and gaseous medium introducing circuit being cooperative to provide a predetermined pressure inside the enclosure in a central volume thereof, a multi-polar magnetic confinement structure positioned remote from the central volume, and a device for exciting the gaseous medium by means of microwaves at the electronic cyclotronic resonance, said exciting device comprises at least one co-axial structure for introducing the microwave power inside the multi-polar confinement structure and at least one antenna coupled to the co-axial structure for the localized introduction of the microwave energy, the multi-polar magnetic confinement structure comprising a set of permanent magnets creating a network of surfaces having a constant magnetic field and presenting locally an intensity which corresponds to the electronic cyclotronic resonance, and said antenna being positioned on said network of surfaces of constant magnetic field in an area of intensity correpsonding to the electronic cyclotronic resonance and remote from the central volume for locally creating a plasma remote from the central volume such that the created plasma is devoid of magnetic field in the central volume.