Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			    March 21, 2003



Following invessel cleanup and documentation Alcator C-Mod has been
pumped down.  Work continued on machine instrumentation and hardware,
and ICRF and Lower Hybrid MIE systems.


Operations
----------

After invessel cleanup and documentation Alcator C-Mod was pumped down
on Monday evening.  Heater systems, and cryo and thermocouple
instrumentation were brought on-line in preparation for LN2 cooldown
of the magnets.  The installation of the new LN2 sump is progressing
and should be ready for operation next week.

We continued to bring up data system components.

Neutron calibrations were carried out successfully on Thursday, and on
Saturday and Sunday Thomson scattering systems were calibrated using
a hydrogen backfill.


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

The J-Port antenna, transmission lines, and tuners have been
successfully modeled using Agilent ADS (EESOF).  The code output matches
closely network analyzer results, indicating the model can be used to design
components for operation at 53 MHz.  Work is continuing on estimates
of the cost and schedule for the fast matching ferrite tuner project.

The coupling from the J-Port ICRF antenna to the Active MHD antennas
between G and H ports has been measured at all ICRF frequencies of
interest. The coupling was found to be acceptable (better than -23db)


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

Work at MIT has continued on the operator control program for the
timing system, which we expect to start testing next week.  Work on
the timing system hardware design details and schematic has been
completed, and lay out of the printed circuit board has begun.

Initial assembly of the forward waveguide, bellows, enclosure box, and
port extension was completed at PPPL successfully this week.  All
components mate well and are aligned.  The coupling between the
launcher bearings and the port extension rail yielded a higher than
expected coefficient of friction.  This bearing and rail system allows
the launcher to be positioned radially relative to the plasma.  The
rail material is being changed from 300 series stainless steel to
Stellite 6BH, a much better bearing material.  After replacement with
the Stellite, testing of radial motion under vacuum can begin along
with further leak checking of the launcher assembly.  The rf losses of
both rear waveguide sections have been measured to be lower than
expected, and the split ratio of the 3 dB splitter is 3.0 +/-0.1 dB.
The standard component loops and the high power phase shifters have
also tested satisfactorily.  Work is proceeding to determine the
required phase length shims which must be added to each loop prior to
installing them onto the rear stacked waveguide.  The shims will be
machined at PPPL.  Two of the four couplers have now been copper
plated successfully.  The remaining two are now being plated.  The
rear faces of the couplers will then be trimmed for correct metal
gasket compression when fit to the forward waveguide.


Trips and Visits
----------------

Dennis Whyte, UCSD, visited this Tuesday and Wednesday, and gave a
PSFC seminar on disruption mitigation with high pressure gas puffs.
He worked with several collaborators including Bob Granetz on
disruption mitigation, and radial transport analysis and the
development of a surface analysis diagnostic with Bruce Lipschultz.

Martin Greenwald traveled to Washington D.C. for a meeting of the
ESnet steering committee.  The opportunity was used for an impromptu
meeting with six members of the OFES staff to discuss needs for
networking infrastructure by the fusion program.

Ian Hutchinson, Earl Marmar, and Miklos Porkolab attended the DOE
budget planning meeting on March 18,19 in Gaithersburg, MD.  Ian and
Earl presented the C-Mod program and plans for FY04-FY05.  Miklos gave
a presentation on PSFC institutional issues.  The presentations can be
found at

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/Cmod/sciprogram/CMod_Budget_Meeting_Presentation_03.pdf