Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			October 27, 1997
 

The maintenance period on Alcator C-Mod is coming to an end.  Last
week the alternator was brought up to full speed.  This week it will be
run with excitation applied, and assuming all measurements are within
specification, it will be ready for operation.

As a test of the 80 MHz system before operation into a plasma, we have begun
running FMIT#1 and #2 into vacuum.  This is the first time the system has run
since June. Calibration of the phase output of the PPPL demodulators has been
completed.  Work on FMIT#3 and #4 is making steady progress.  Final testing
of the UpteGraff #4 power supply is awaiting installation of a fuse panel.

The high voltage, low capacitance transmission line between power supplies
and the DNB test lab is essentially complete, and we are now looking
forward to installing the high voltage cable assembly.  The final design
for the DNB accelerator supply controls was started.  The controls must be
complete before oil conditioning can begin.  Design of the cooling system
for the modulator/regulator was completed and construction begun.
Installation of the beamline cryopumps was completed.  The pumps were
successfully tested though we will obtain operation for extended periods
only after completion of on-going modifications to the compressor cooling
system.

The C-Mod Operations Calendar and C-Mod Run Schedule have been updated.
Check them out at the links on

        http://www.pfc.mit.edu/cmod/cmod_links.html

under the Experiment Operations heading.  Note that the mini-proposals
for a given run can be accessed directly from the Operations Calendar.

A DOE Quarterly Review was held last week on Oct. 22nd at MIT.  Rostom
Dagazian represented DOE. Summaries of recent physics results were
presented.  Plans and progress for the PPPL collaboration were discussed
by Randy Wilson and those of the UT-FRC by Bill Rowan. Also attending
were Joel Hosea from PPPL and Ken Gentle from UT-FRC.

Miklos Porkolab attended the IAEA meeting on "Innovative Approaches
to Fusion Energy", in Pleasanton, California, and chaired one of the
sessions.  Earl Marmar and Ian Hutchinson attended the FESAC meeting
in Washington D.C.