A helicon wave, high density RF plasma reactor having improved plasma and contaminant control. The reactor contains a well defined anode electrode that is heated above a polymer condensation temperature to ensure that deposits of material that would otherwise alter the ground plane characteristics do not form on the anode. The reactor also contains a magnetic bucket for axially confining the plasma in the chamber using a plurality of vertically oriented magnetic strips or horizontally oriented magnetic toroids that circumscribe the chamber. The reactor may utilize a temperature control system to maintain a constant temperature on the surface of the chamber.