The electric fields of the helical resonator, both of the fundamental frequency and the odd harmonics up to the eleventh, have been probed using metallic copper and heavily doped Si:P disks by measuring the relative frequency shift &Dgr;f/fand the change in quality factor &Dgr;(1/Q) with a network analyzer after insertion of the disk as a probe mounted on a dielectric support rod which could be translated along thezaxis of the helix with a micrometer drive. The magnetic field componentHzwas probed using the paramagnetic free radical DPPH and a simple transmission electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. The &Dgr;f/fresults were compared with calculated results using the Bethe–Schwinger expression and the plasma result for the change in dielectric response, while the &Dgr;(1/Q) results were compared with a standard loss expression. The results, except for the role of the short but including the metallic disk thickness and diameter dependence, agree with the fields given by Pierce for an infinite helical current sheet, when adapted to the standing wave form. The ESR results demonstrate the optimum position for a paramagnetic sample. The ESR amplitude versus probe insertion depth is in qualitative agreement with an expression by Wilmshurstetal., but also exhibits an unexplained sign change. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.