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The influence of the magnetic field configuration on the performance of a helicon-based negative ion source is investigated with simulation experiments. Using COMSOL Multiphysics software, a three-dimensional simulation model for a negative ion source, based on a helicon plasma source, is presented in two magnetic field configurations: uniform and nonuniform configurations. The helicon plasma source employed a Nagoya-type antenna to apply radio-frequency (RF) power at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. The injected gas is hydrogen with a flow of 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute. Using a three-dimensional model, helicon wave propagation in the presence of a magnetic filter and the energy absorption mechanism in the helicon system are investigated. In this context, in the presence of the two magnetic field configurations, the influence of the important parameters' working pressure and RF power on the optimization of negative ion production under volume mode is studied. Six electromagnetic coils at the same current are used for producing the magnetic field in both cases of uniform and nonuniform configurations. The variation of the electron density and electron temperature, in both regions of driver and expansion, are calculated and represented with respect to the different power and the gas pressure. The simulation results of the negative ion density in the expansion region for the uniform and nonuniform magnetic field configurations are compared. The results indicate that at the same applied current of coils, the negative ion density in the presence of the nonuniform magnetic field is about 1.75 times higher than the negative ion density of the uniform case. Moreover, the results show that the negative ion density is decreased by decreasing the magnetic field of the driver region in the nonuniform cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]