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To demonstrate the mysterious and still controversial mechanism of high ionization efficiency during helicon discharges, this work focuses particularly on the role of second‐order radial density gradient (SRDG) in helicon power absorption, both analytical and numerical. It was found that the positive or negative sign of SRDG and radial location of vanishing SRDG determine the radial profile of power absorption remarkably. First, by measuring SRDG at two radial locations (near plasma core and edge) where power absorption usually peaks, and varying it as a function of free parameter, we see that: (a) the power absorption from the antenna to plasma increases for positive SRDG and decreases for negative SRDG when viewed in the same  x ‐coordinate direction of SRDG and (b) the power absorption is maximized near the position where this local SRDG vanishes, consistent with the theory of radially localized helicon mode (B. N. Breizman and A. V. Arefiev,  Phys. Rev. Lett ., 84:3863, 2000). Second, by choosing the whole radial profiles of typical plasma distribution that have zero‐crossing SRDG, we find that the power absorption redistributes significantly when the location of vanishing SRDG moves radially outwards, and specifically when the radial locations of maximum power absorption and vanishing SRDG move in the same direction near the plasma core but noticeably in the opposite direction near the plasma edge. These findings are very interesting for helicon plasma applications that require certain power distribution or heat flux configuration, for example, material processing, which can be controlled by adjusting the radial profile of SRDG, especially the zero‐crossing SRDG.

The role of second‐order radial density gradient for helicon power absorption