Modelling of passive spectroscopy in the ITER divertor: the first hydrogen Balmer lines

The first lines of the hydrogen Balmer series are investigated in ITER divertor conditions using a line shape code and a plasma edge transport code. It is shown that most of the emissivity originates from a localized, cold and dense region close to the divertor target plates, where the plasma is in the recombining regime. We simulate the signal obtained by pointing a spectrometer at this zone. The physical processes which contribute to the spectral line formation are examined, with a special emphasis on the Stark effect, photon absorption and stimulated emission. It is shown that, even though the Stark effect is significant, local information on the Doppler atomic temperature can be obtained from a fitting analysis of the D alpha spectral line shape.