The Magnetized Plasma Interaction Experiment (MAGPIE) is a versatile helicon source plasma device operating in a magnetic hill configuration designed to support a broad range of research activity and is the first stage of the Materials Diagnostic Facility at the Australian National University. Various material targets can be introduced to study a range of plasma–material interaction phenomena. Initially, with up to 2.1 kW of RF at 13.56 MHz, argon (10 18 –10 19 m −3) and hydrogen (up to 10 19 m −3 at 20 kW) plasma with electron temperature ∼3–5 eV was produced in magnetic fields up to ∼0.19 T. For high mirror ratio we observe the formation of a bright blue core in argon above a threshold RF power of 0.8 kW. Magnetic probe measurements show a clear m = +1 wave field, with wavelength smaller than or comparable to the antenna length above and below this threshold, respectively. Spectroscopic studies indicate ion temperatures <1 eV, azimuthal flow speeds of ∼1 km s −1 and axial flow near the ion sound speed. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)