Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			February 21, 2006
				

FY2006 weeks of research operations:
   Planned: 14 weeks
   Completed: 4 weeks


Operations
----------

A borescope inspection was completed last week that confirmed a
cooling line problem to one of the TF vertical legs. The machine has
been warmed to room temperature and repairs are proceeding.


Upper Divertor Cryopump
-----------------------

Brian LaBombard has developed a Monte Carlo code to model gas dynamics
for the cryopump.  The code has been used to optimize placement of the
1" diameter liquid helium filled inconel tube relative to the liquid
nitrogen cooled shields, resulting in a 10% increase in calculated
pumping speed.  Components needed to measure the liquid helium level
in the pump have been ordered, and fabrication of in-vacuum components
for the cryopump test stand is progressing.


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

The Lower Hybrid system is calibrated and ready for operation into
plasma at power levels exceeding 700 kW.


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

Inspection of the high voltage transformer retifier system indicated
that the retifier diodes are in good condition.  Several of the MOV
protection stack components which need to be replaced are on order and
expected in-house this week.


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

Riccardo Maggiora and Daniele Milanesio from Politecnico di Torino
visited to discuss progress and plans for collaboration on integrating
the full wave code TORIC with the ICRF antenna code TOPICA,
benchmarking of TOPICA, future antenna ICRF design, and a new
waveguide antenna code LH coupler analysis.  They met with Paul
Bonoli, John Wright, Yijun Lin, Alex Parisot, and Steve Wukitch.

Randy Wilson, PPPL, visited MIT last week to help with the analysis of
the new plasma coupling data for the Lower Hybrid system.  Stewart
Zweben, also of PPPL, continued his visit at MIT and conducted a
preliminary design review of the new Gas Puff Imaging system which
will provide views of the lower divertor.
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