Cool, High-Density Regime for Poloidal Divertors

Calculations have been performed which demonstrate the possibility of operating poloidal divertors at high densities and low temperatures. Ionization of recycling neutral gas near the divertor neutralizer plate amplifies the input particle flux thereby raising the plasma density and lowering the plasma temperature. Low-temperature, high-density operation should reduce the erosion rate of the divertor walls and plate, and ease the pumping requirements in future large tokamaks.