We　report　the　characteristics　of　a　right-handed　helically　grooved　metal　wire　waveguide.　For　the　helically　grooved　waveguide,　the　normal　degenerate　HE1　spoof　surface　plasmon　polariton　(SSPP)　mode　could　be　decomposed　into　two　opposite　circularly　polarized　modes,　i.e.,　HE-1　and　HE+1　SSPP　modes,　due　to　the　chirality　of　helical　grooves.　The　dispersion　characteristics　of　the　nondegenerate　HE　±　1　SSPP　modes　were　numerically　obtained,　and　their　spiral　electromagnetic　distributions　were　also　presented.　It　was　found　that　the　HE　±　1　modes　were　circularly　polarized;　they　were　also　vortex　modes　and　possessed　an　orbit　angular　monument.　In　addition,　the　focusing　characteristics　of　such　waves　near　the　waveguide　end　were　investigated.　The　distinct　advantages,　such　as　a　relatively　long　focusing　length　and　the　circular　polarization　of　the　chiral　HE　+　1　SSPP　modes,　make　the　helically　grooved　metal　wire　waveguide　a　potential　for　near-field　circular　dichroism　detection.　©　2009-2012　IEEE.