Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			  October 25, 2004


FY 2005 weeks of research operation planned: 14 weeks, completed: 0 weeks.

We are currently up-to-air with the primary goal of installing the
lower hybrid launcher.  In addition, a large number of in-vessel
activities are ongoing in support of ICRF and diagnostic systems.
Maintenance and upgrades to diagnostic and power systems are also in
progress.


Physics
-------

Valerie Izzo, a new post-doc with a DoE ORISE fellowship, just began
working at Alcator.  Valerie has extensive experience modelling the
HIT-SI spheromak at University of Washington using the NIMROD 3-D MHD
code.  She will apply her NIMROD expertise to model planned
experiments using high pressure noble gas jets for disruption
mitigation.  The goal is to understand how this technique affects halo
currents and plasma motion during the quench.


Operations
----------

Work continued on upgrades to the engineering PLC to PC software.

Maintenance continued on the MIT Alternator.  The crane and alternator
house walls have been cleaned and repainted as have the alternator end
bells.


Lower Hybrid System
-------------------

Tests on a 3-window prototype indicate that we can successfully
re-braze the #3 PPPL coupler using incusil ABA braze powder.  One more
3-window test will be done using incusil ABA paste before we do the
re-braze of the 24-window coupler later this week.  Preparations
continue for brazing the #4 PPPL coupler.

All components required for the fwg to rwg assembly are now ready and
re-assembly will begin this week.  Work continues on the carts and
fixturing required to transport the launcher into the C-Mod cell and
install it.

The gold seal surfaces on the #1 and #2 PPPL couplers will be machined
this week.  This final machining operation insures proper compression
of both the vacuum and rf gaskets.

Cabling is being prepared for the 96 rwg rf probe signals.  Work
continued on I/Q detector and vector modulator calibrations and
related control software.


ICRF System
-----------

Work continued on the rf by-pass capacitors for the J-Port antenna.
This work is nearly complete, and the capacitors will soon be ready
for in-vessel installation.  Work also continued on the FMIT#3 and
FMIT#4 crowbar trigger circuits.  These systems are ready to install
and testing will begin this week.


Long Pulse DNB
--------------

We continued work on the DNB power system last week.  Protection
hardware and set-points are being verified.  Control cabinet wiring is
being cheched out and compared to drawings.


Diagnostics
-----------

We continued work on the polarimeter Bragg cell drive electronics,
limiting amplifiers, and vacuum flange.

In-vessel work to repair the CXRS shutter proceeded last week.
Replacement of the window this week will complete this work.


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

Perry Phillips, UT-FRC, completed a test fit of the new cooling system
for the FRC-ECE.  This type of upgrade has been shown to lengthen the
time between re-calibrations.

Monty Grimes, Dexter Beals, and Bob Childs visited SLAC and our
klystron rebuilding vendor last week to discuss klystron rebuild
procedures and changes to the klystron cathodes that could extend
filament lifetimes.

Charley Schwartz visited a vendor in Albuquerque, NM to discuss high
dielectric constant materials, and their application techniques for
the J-Port DC breaks. These materials may also find application in the
transmitters for the screen by-pass and the coupling capacitors. The
vendor will coat two DC break inner conductors for tests here at MIT.
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