Characterisation of radiation and flux measurements on a neutraliser plate of the Tore Supra ergodic divertor

A recent extensive experimental study of impurity production and penetration for various density regimes is described. Deuterium and carbon emissions near a neutraliser plate (NP) of the Tore Supra Ergodic Divertor (ED) has been measured with an absolutely calibrated visible endoscope, for high- and low-density plasma regimes. From these radiation measurements, we have deduced an effective carbon flux, and at an order-of-magnitude estimate of the NP erosion: 50 m for the fall 1999 experimental ED campaign (≈500 shots). Combining the measured carbon and deuterium fluxes, we deduce a global experimental carbon sputtering yield for the NP in the range 2×10−2–3×10−1 for ohmic pulses, showing evidence of the importance of carbon self-sputtering.