A study of the influence of plasma–molecule interactions on particle balance during detachment

In this work we provide experimental insights into the impact of plasma-molecule interactions on target ion flux decrease during divertor detachment achieved through a core density ramp in TCV tokamak. Our improved analysis hydrogen Balmer series shows that processes are strongly contributing to intensities and substantially alter particle balance. We find Molecular Activated Recombination (MAR) sinks from $H_2^+$ and/or $H^-$ factor $\sim$ 5 larger than Electron-Ion (EIR) significant contributor observed reduction outer flux. Ionisation (MAI) may also be detachment. Plasma-molecule enhance line emission near as proceeds. This indicates enhancements Lyman series, potentially affecting power balance divertor. As those vary spatially different for transitions, they expected result separation $Ly\beta$ $Ly\alpha$ regions. have implications treatment diagnosis opacity. The demonstrated enhancement poses challenge using understanding diagnosing based only atom-plasma processes.