Investigation of the helical divertor function and the future plan of a closed divertor for efficient particle control in the LHD plasma periphery

Shoji, Mamoru*; Masuzaki, Suguru*; Kobayashi, Masahiro*; Goto, Motoshi*; Morisaki, Tomohiro*; Yamada, Hiroshi*; Komori, Akio*; Iwamae, Atsushi; Sakaue, Atsushi*; LHD Experimental Group*

The function of the divertor plasmas on the particle control in the plasma periphery is investigated from view points of magnetic field line structure and neutral particle transport. It shows that the particle and heat deposition on the divertor plate arrays are explained by the distribution of strike points calculated by magnetic field line tracing with a randam walk process, which is experimentally supported by measurements in various magnetic configurations. Control of neutral particle fueling from the divertor plate is essential for sustaining long pulse discharges and achieving Super Dense Core plasma. The behavior of neutral particles in the plasma periphery has been investigated by emission measurements and a neutral particles transport simulation. It reveals that the main particle source in an ICRF heated long pulse discharge is from the divertor plates heated by protons accelerated by ICRF waves, and the spatial profile of the neutral particle density in various magnetic configurations is explained by the distribution of the strike points. Basing on this analysis, a closed divertor configuration optimized for the intrinsic magnetic field line structure in the Large Helical Devices is proposed for efficient particle control and heat load reduction on the divertor plates.