Divertor Stabilization in Mirrors

Divertor stabilization is considered as an alternative MHD stability concept for mirror-based plasma confinement systems. The discussed concept is based on thermodynamics and self-organization of magnetized plasmas, contrary to the conventional MHD stabilization, based on the presence of averaged "magnetic well". We show that self-organized plasma maintenance near a relaxed marginally-stable state with decreasing pressure profile can be realized in essentially non-paraxial longitudinally linked mirror cells restricted by a joint divertorlike magnetic separatrix with one or several magnetic field nulls at the plasma edge. Brief history, basic principles, and main advantages of the divertor stabilization concept are discussed.