Magnetically sweeping the separatrix along the divertor plate is proposed to accommodate higher heat loads or to reduce the maximum armor/coating surface temperature for a given heat flux distribution. During the sweeping, each position on the divertor plate will experience periodic heat and particle flux variations. The magnitude of these variations with time will depend on the location as well as on the time shape of the sweeping wave. Consequently, the shape of the sweeping pulse and the sweeping frequency will determine the maximum surface temperature as well as the spatial distribution of the temperature along the sweeping distance. Sweeping is also expected to increase the lifetime due to reduction in both physical sputtering and chemical and radiation enhanced erosion for materials such as graphite or carbon composites.