Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			  December 16, 2002



The maintenance period continued on Alcator C-Mod last week.  Work
proceeded on the Lower Hybrid MIE Project, ICRF systems, and invessel
activities.


Operations
----------

The lower cryostat cover was removed last Thursday and the TF high
resistance to ground was tracked down to a lead from the K-left lower
TF arm.  The magnet now hi-pots reliably.  We are continuing to remove
the upper cryostat cover so that all tap and thermocouple leads can be
inspected for wear.  Plans are being made to add insulation and wear
protection to all these leads.

Invessel work continued as we removed and inspected more of the ICRF
and MHD antenna components.  Invessel diagnostics and first wall components
are also being checked.


Lower Hybrid Project
--------------------

Tests of the new HVPS crowbar circuit have begun at MIT.

The LHCD launcher project is continuing to make good progress at PPPL.
Recently completed activities include, vacuum tests of the interface flange
with gold seals, deflection and load testing of gaskets, RF testing of
the forward stacked waveguides, drawings for standard RF components,
setup of a test stand to accommodate the launcher, and weldment of support
brackets inside the C-Mod port extension.

Stefano Bernabei, Bob Ellis, Joel Hosea, and Doug Loesser were at MIT
on 12/10 for a discussion of LHCD launcher installation details and
what interfacing with MIT supplied systems will be required.
Thermocouple, heater, RF probe, and protection tile systems were
discussed.


Diagnostic Neutral Beam
-----------------------

The source shields and plumbing have been re-installed, and
successfully leak checked. Startup current traces showed that the
overshoot at the beginning of the discharge is now gone, indicating
that the blockage removed from the source gas valve was the cause of
this behavior.


ICRF Systems
------------

Long pulse tests of the ICRF system continued last week.  Four second
long, 1.5 MW pulses, were delivered to the General Atomics dummy load
from FMIT3.  Preparations are being made for similar tests using FMIT4.


Travel and Visits
-----------------

Paul Bonoli and Bruce Lipschultz traveled to PPPL to serve as
facilitators at the NSTX Five Year Planning Feedback Forum held on
Dec. 12 and 13.

David Mikkelsen spent the week with the C-Mod group and discussed data
from discharges of interest for testing turbulent transport
simulations, the vertically drifting Li pellet striations, and the
capabilities of the CXRS diagnostic.