of edge plasma physics, no magnetic fusion reactor is possible, and the edge plasma
physics becomes the forefront of magnetic fusion research.
In this book, we present the core of the modern understanding of the most crucial
edge plasma phenomena. Since edge plasma physics is very complex and involves
many different topics ranging from classical and anomalous transport of
multispecies plasma to atomic physics, the energy radiation loss and radiation
transport in opaque media, the plasma material interactions and even the material
physics, we cannot describe here all these topics in detail. In many instances, we will
emphasize the theoretical background of the underlying physics process and illustrate our conclusions with the available experimental data while referring to other
books, review papers, and journal publications for the details. At this time, there are
hundreds and thousands of journal publications devoted to different aspects of the
edge plasma physic, so it is impossible to cite all of them. We hope that our
colleagues understand this and will not be too upset if some of their publications
are absent from the reference list.
La Jolla, CA, USA
Sergei Krasheninnikov
Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Andrei Smolyakov
Moscow, Russia
Andrei Kukushkin
x
Preface