Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			March 6, 2006
				

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


Operations
----------

After a several day long purge of the cryostat with nitrogen gas,
cool-down of Alcator C-Mod began last Wednesday.  Cooling of the
C-Right vertical leg has been restored, and plasma operations will
resume this week.

Operational tests have been successfully completed for the new
intra-shot diborane gas puff system.


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

Detailed drawings of the cryopump are being sent out to our vendor so
that the cryopump fabrication can begin.  The final details involving
placement of the LN2 cooling lines on the LN2 shield were resolved
last week after results from the new Monte Carlo code were evaluated.
Purchase orders for LHe temperature sensors and controllers have been
issued.  Qualification tests of the LHe level sensor that will be used
to control helium levels in the cryopump have been successfully
completed.  All in-vessel components for the cryopump test stand have
been fabricated and will be installed this week.

Tungsten Lamella Tiles
----------------------

Stress analysis has been completed on the tile module and all stresses
are within allowable levels.  These results will permit module design
details to be finalized.  All components needed for the
thermal/electric contact resistance test stand are in-house and
fabrication of the stand will begin this week.


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

All crowbar systems have been tested, and the transmitters have been
run into dummy loads and are ready for plasma operations.

A power supply to drive the real-time fast ferrite tuner system, on
loan from the vendor, is in-house and being prepared for operation.


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

The 3rd harmonic fault protection interlock has been installed and
will be tested during plasma operation this week.


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

Dennis Whyte, U Wisc, gave a talk on "Deuterium Retention and Recovery
on Alcator C-Mod" at the Plasma Facing Components Meeting in UCSD, San
Diego last week, and Bruce Lipschultz gave a talk on "The C-Mod
Plasma Boundary Program" at the same meeting.

Cung Kung, PPPL,  visited MIT last week for assembly, tuning, and
installation of the re-furbished 140 GHz reflectometer.
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