Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			February 27, 2006
				

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


Operations
----------

Repair of the cooling line for the C-Right TF vertical leg was
completed last week, and the Alcator C-Mod cryostat is back under
purge with nitrogen gas.  The purge will continue to the middle of
this week at which point cool-down of the machine with liquid nitrogen
will begin in preparation for the restart of operations.  The current
run schedule can be found at

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/research/alcator/data/operation2006.pdf

PLC and Digital Plasma Control System software required for puffing
diborane into plasma discharges was successfully tested last week. A
fiber optic link from a new DPCS analog output channel to the diborane
piezoelectric valve driver circuit has been connected and tested in
conjunction with modified circuitry in the gas control rack.  Final
system testing with helium gas in place of the diborane is planned for
this week.


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

An orbital welder has been ordered to perform in-vessel welds of the
cryopump components.  Approximately 50% of the in-vessel components for
the cryopump test stand have been installed.


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

We have identified a suitable power supply for the real-time fast
ferrite tuner system.  The vendor has agreed to loan us the supply for
in-house testing.  Interface and protection hardware for the supply is
being developed.


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

A new program has been written by one of our graduate students, John
Liptac, that allows the launcher phase to be adjusted intra-shot.
This program will allow faster characterization of launcher coupling
to the plasma during the next run period.  Ultimately, intra-shot
phase adjustment should provide a tool to modify the radial deposition
of the lower hybrid waves for current profile control.

Bench testing of the 3rd harmonic coupler arc protection system
Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) program is underway.


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

Dr. Shinji Yoshimura, from the LHD project at the National Institute
for Fusion Science, Japan, is currently visiting for one week. He is
working with Brian LaBombard and graduate student Noah Smick on probe
diagnostics and edge plasma physics.

Ron Bravenec, UTexas, visited MIT last week and is continuing his
visit this week.

Martin Greenwald was at PPPL last week participating in the NSTX
Program Advisory Committee meeting.
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