Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			   October 31, 2005


FY2006 weeks of research operations
Planned: TBD
Completed: 0 weeks


Operations
----------

Alcator C-Mod was cooled down to operating temperature, the alternator
brought up to full speed, and the data system and runtime
instrumentation brought back online last week.  Magnet power tests
were begun on Monday morning of this week, and the first plasmas of
the FY2006 campaign were produced in the afternoon.


Physics Research
----------------

Two Alcator C-Mod team members were made APS Fellows last week during
the 47th Annual APS Meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics.  Paul
Bonoli's citation reads "For seminal contributions to the theory and
modeling of wave-particle interactions in the lower hybrid and ion
cyclotron range of frequencies in toroidal confinement devices."
Brian Labombard's citation reads "For fundamental contributions to the
understanding of edge plasma transport phenomena in magnetic fusion
devices, including poloidal transport asymmetries, plasma flows, and
crossfield transport physics in the scrape-off layer."

Four invited talks were presented at the APS Meeting last week
involving work on Alcator C-Mod:

Bob Granetz --- "Gas Jet Disruption Studies on Alcator C-Mod"

Jerry Hughes --- "Advances in Measurement and Modeling of the H-Mode
Pedestal on the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak"

Bruce Lipschultz --- "Operation of Alcator C-Mod with High-Z Plasma
Facing Components and Implications"

Stewart Zweben (PPPL) --- "Structure and Motion of Edge Turbulence in
NSTX and Alcator C-Mod"

These presentations and eventually all C-Mod orals and posters will be
available at

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/research/alcator/pubs/APS/APS2005/denver-2005.htm

A C-Mod quarterly review was held in Denver during the APS meeting on
October 27th. Adam Rosenberg (C-Mod program manager), and Steve
Eckstrand (NSTX program manager), represented DoE.  Earl Marmar, Ian
Hutchinson, Miklos Porkolab, and Jim Irby discussed progress, status,
and plans of the C-Mod program with supporting viewgraphs that can be
found at

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/research/alcator/pubs/doe_102705.pdf


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

Work continued on circuitry required to interlock the DNB with
information from the TCI density diagnostic.  TCI data valid and NL
signals will be generated for use by the interlock system.


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

A faulted ignitron which had been responsible for arc-downs in the
FMIT#3 crowbar cabinet has been replaced, and the crowbar unit
successfully tested and brought back online.  All FMIT transmitters
should be ready for operation late this week.


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

All four stainless steel lower hybrid couplers have undergone
successful braze wetting tests.  We have successfully brazed windows
into the 24-window prototype, and a very sensitive leak-check
indicates the prototype is leak-free. Brazing of the #2 stainless
steel coupler occurred on Monday evening.

Progress continued on calibration and testing of the klystron drive
amplifiers and pin switches.


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

Most of the physicists and students from the group were in Denver last
week, participating in the 47th Annual APS-DPP meeting.

Following the APS-DPP meeting, Steve Wolfe and Bob Granetz
participated in the Second Error/Non-Axisymmetric Magnetic Field
Workshop, held in Denver on Friday, Oct 28th.
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