Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights October 11, 2005 FY2006 weeks of research operations Planned: TBD Completed: 0 weeks Operations ---------- Alcator C-Mod was closed up and pumped down on Monday, 10/03, on schedule. After a careful leak-check followed by cool-down of the magnets to -25 C, a bake to 120 C was begun on Thursday. On Friday, ECDC was begun. The bake and discharge cleaning will continue for several more days. During the up-to-air period a partial list of in-vessel work included: removal of J-Port Faraday screen and installation of new septa; walls, tiles, mirrors, and windows were cleaned; MSE calibrations and tests were performed; bolometer array alignment checked; CXRS views confirmed; CNPA line-of-sight improved; a new periscope was installed at K-Port top; alignment and view of the LANL IR camera checked; K-Port limiter melt zones removed; FRC-ECE mirrors inspected and cleaned; both the D- and E-Port antennas were inspected and cleaned; all outer divertor cover plates were removed and cleaned and dust was removed from under the plates. Preventative maintenance of the alternator continued with operational tests scheduled to begin this week. Physics Research ---------------- Bob Granetz and Sarah Angilini have populated the first 100 disruptions in the ITPA disruption database (DDB) ahead of schedule. At the Tarragona MHD ITPA meeting this past summer, it was agreed that a new multi-machine database of disruptions would be created. This new database is to consist of MDSplus trees with data supplied by the various experimental groups, as well as an associated SQL relational database. The DDB is hosted and administered by GA. The shots submitted so far by C-Mod are ones with the fastest instantaneous dIp/dt quench rates. The highest dIp/dt to date is -2.4 x 10^9 A/s which occurred during a 2 MA discharge. ICRF Systems ------------ We continued network analyzer measurements and associated simulations necessary to setup the transmission line network for the J-Port antenna with the new septa configuration. The antenna is electrically shorter than it was with the Faraday shield installed. Re-installation of the FMIT#3 power supply diode stack has been completed. Lower Hybrid System ------------------- Fabrication of the stainless steel #1 coupler has been completed by our vendor and is in-house undergoing inspections. We expect it to be plated later this week along with the #3 coupler and some test samples. The #3 coupler is being re-plated following a braze test that showed inadequate flow in several of the channels. The same test resulted in excellent braze flow in all 24 guides of both the #2 and the #4 couplers. Work continues on a 3rd harmonic fault detection system, and general calibration work involving the phase and amplitude control system. Travel and Visits ----------------- John Rice attended the ITPA Transport Topical Group Meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia last week while Amanda Hubbard and Ted Biewer attended the ITPA Pedestal Topical Group Meeting. Amanda reported on the results and status of inter-machine experiments PEP-12 (with JFT-2M) and PEP-7 (with JET, AUG and DIIID). Martin Greenwald is in Geneva, Switzerland to present a paper "Visions for Data Management and Remote Participation for ITER." He will then go to Lausanne to discuss similar topics at CRPP. _______________________________________________ Cmod_weekly mailing list Cmod_weekly@lists.psfc.mit.edu http://lists.psfc.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cmod_weekly