Verhaegh, K.Lipschultz, B.Harrison, J. R.Duval, B. P.Fil, A.Wensing, M.Bowman, C.Gahle, D. S.Kukushkin, A.Moulton, D.Perek, A.Pshenov, A.Federici, F.Fevrier, O.Myatra, O.Smolders, A.Theiler, C.2021-09-252021-09-252021-09-252021-10-0110.1088/1741-4326/ac1dc5https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/181737WOS:000694700700001This paper shows experimental results from the TCV tokamak that indicate plasma-molecule interactions involving D2+ <i and possibly D- play an important role as sinks of energy (through hydrogenic radiation as well as dissociation) and particles (ions) during divertor detachment if low target temperatures (<3 eV) are achieved. Both molecular activated recombination (MAR) and ion source reduction due to a power limitation effect are shown to be important in reducing the ion target flux during a density ramp. In contrast, the electron-ion recombination (EIR) ion sink is too small to play an important role in reducing the ion target flux. MAR or EIR do not occur during N-2 seeding induced detachment as the target temperatures are not sufficiently low. The impact of D-2(+) <i is shown to be underestimated in present (vibrationally unresolved) SOLPS-ITER simulations, which could result from an underestimated D-2 + D+-> D-2(+) + D rate. The converged SOLPS-ITER simulations are post-processed with alternative reaction rates, resulting in considerable contributions of D-2(+) to particle and power losses as well as dissociation below the D-2 dissociation area. Those findings are in quantitative agreement with the experimental results.Physics, Fluids & PlasmasPhysicstokamak divertorsolps-iterplasma spectroscopydetachmentpower/particle balancesplasma-molecule interactionsmolecular reaction ratesvolume recombinationhydrogen moleculesdivertoremissiontext::journal::journal article::research article