Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights January 31, 2005 FY 2005 weeks of research operation planned: 14 weeks, completed: 0 weeks. The Alcator C-Mod vacuum vessel is being baked in preparation for plasma operation. The MIT alternator, power supplies, and C-Mod diagnostic systems are also being prepared for operation. Physics ------- Preparations are being made for the 2005 Program Advisory Committee to be held this week from 2/2 to 2/4. PAC members participating this year will be Vincent Chan (chair, GA), Rich Groebner (GA), Dale Meade (PPPL), John Sarff (U. Wisc.), Yuichi Takase (U. Tokyo ), George Tynan (UCSD), Mike Ulrickson (Sandia) and Dennis Whyte (U. Wisc.). Representing DoE OFES will be Rostom Dagazian. Operations ---------- We continued the 120 C bake of the vessel most of the week and then through the weekend. On Thursday morning we began electron cyclotron discharge cleaning (ECDC). The amount of water and hydrogen in the machine has come down dramatically, and the vacuum conditions are more than adequate for making plasma discharges. Work continued preparing the MIT alternator for operation. A PLC problem on Friday precluded full speed operation. The PLC issue has been resolved, and we expect full operation of the alternator early this week. Pre-operation checkout of the magnet power supplies continued last week. Lower Hybrid System ------------------- Installation of the waveguide runs from the klystrons to the rear waveguide (rwg) continued last week. A picture of the installation can be seen at http://www.psfc.mit.edu/cmod/operations/EngImages/RF/lower_hybrid/DCP_0026.JPG Preparations are being made to join the rwg with the fwg early this week, following final checks on phase measurements using the new rf probes. Forward and reflected power and phase measurements for all 48 forward rwg rf probes have been taken and are being analyzed. We have completed pre-operation high power testing of all twelve klystrons. Eleven tubes have been run at the 200 kW level. One tube previously known to have reduced gain, saturates at 160 kW, which is still an acceptable power level for the experiments planned for the next run campaign. The coupler protection system (CPS) rack has been moved from the test lab into the cell and is being prepared for operation. The CPS fault calibration box is complete. The pulse transformer for the klystron test stand has arrived. This transformer was the last major component needed before work could continue on the high voltage power supply. ICRF System ----------- Work last week concentrated on bringing FMIT#1 and #2 back into operation. Both of these transmitters have new FPA tubes. After a careful system checkout, including wire tests of the crowbar system, FMIT#2 delivered 1.9 MW into a dummy load. We expect FMIT#1 to become operational this week, and work will also continue on FMIT#3 and #4. Long Pulse DNB -------------- The 4160 volt breaker for the new DNB power system has been racked in and closed. The breaker can only be closed from the breaker station in the C-Mod control room, but can be opened from the control room, the DNB PLC, the power room, or the cell. All control locations were successfully tested. The DNB PLC screen correctly indicated the breaker position and successfully cycled the limitAmp controls. The new DNB has been successfully commissioned and is being prepared for shipment to MIT. It will arrive here by 15 Feb. On 23 Feb, a team of Russian scientists and engineers will begin assembling and installing the beam on C-Mod. Travel and Visits ----------------- Perry Phillips, UT-FRC, visited last week and prepared the FRCECE for operation. Amplifiers were refurbished and tested, an IF noise tube was used to test the IF boxes, and internal cabling was reconnected. Chris Brunkhorst, PPPL, visited last week to help with preparations of FMIT#1 and #2 for plasma operation. _______________________________________________ Cmod_weekly mailing list Cmod_weekly@lists.psfc.mit.edu http://lists.psfc.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cmod_weekly