NEOCLASSICAL THEORY OF THE PLASMA EDGE

Tokamak neoclassical theory is extended to the plasma edge region, where the gradient scale lengths of density, temperature, and rotation speed are comparable to the ion poloidal gyroradius, and where upsilon(theta)B(phi)/upsilon(th)B(theta) approximately O(1). A new drift due to viscosity is found to be important. A self-consistent set of equations for determining particle flows within and across flux surfaces, asymmetries over the flux surface in densities and in the electrostatic potential, and the radial electric field in the plasma edge of tokamaks is presented.