Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
			    October 23, 2006


FY2007 weeks of research operations:
   Tentative target: 14 weeks
   Completed: 0 weeks


Physics
-------

Twelve presentations were given on C-Mod related physics at the IAEA
conference in Chengdu, China, October 16 to 22, 2006:

Paul Bonoli - Benchmarking of Lower Hybrid Current Drive Codes with
Application to ITER-Relevant Regime (poster)

Steve Scott - Overview of Alcator C-Mod Research Program (oral)

Darin Ernst - Identification of TEM Turbulence through Direct
Comparison of Nonlinear Gyrokinetic Simulations with Phase Contrast
Imaging Density Fluctuation Measurements (oral)

Bob Granetz - Gas Jet Disruption Mitigation Studies on Alcator C-Mod
and DIII-D (oral)

Olaf Grulke (IPP Greifswald) - Radial Propagation of Eruptive
Turbulent Transport Events in the Scrape-Off Layer of Alcator C-Mod
(poster)

Jerry Hughes - Edge Profile Stiffness and Insensitivity of the Density
Pedestal to Neutral Fueling in Alcator C-Mod Edge Transport Barriers
(poster)

Valerie Izzo - MHD Simulations for Studies of Disruption Mitigation by
High Pressure Noble Gas Injection (poster)

Bruce Lipschultz - Divertor/SOL ITPA (oral)

Earl Marmar - Operation of Alcator C-Mod with High-Z Plasma Facing
Components with and without Boronization (oral)

Miklos Porkolab - Experimental Studies and Analysis of Alfvén Eigenmodes in
Alcator C-Mod (poster)

Steve Wukitch - Alcator C-Mod Ion Cyclotron Antenna Performance (oral)

John Rice (did not attend meeting but his poster was presented by one
of his ITPA co-authors) - Inter-Machine Comparison of Intrinsic
Toroidal Rotation (poster)

Ian Hutchinson also attended the meeting.

A link to the presentations and talks can be found at

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/research/alcator/pubs/iaea/index.htm

Preparations are being made for the 48th Annual Meeting of the
Division of Plasma Physics (DPP).  Three invited talks, 11 oral
presentations, and 35 posters will be presented on Alcator C-Mod
research results.


Operations
----------

Cleaning and bake-out of the lower outer divertor components continued
last week.  Only one module is left for cleanup, but tiles from this
module will first be tested for boron content using an MeV ion beam
technique.


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

We continued preparations for the 24-window coupler braze tests.  The
boron nitride support for the window has been designed and will soon
be fabricated.  The plating fixture for the coupler has been returned
from the vendor and will be modified for the new coupler design.

The test stand for the HVPS modules has been commissioned and modules
are being tested at full current and voltage and also being thermally
cycled.


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

The diode stack for the Uptegraff power supply has been reinstalled in
the supply oil tank following reconditioning.

The fast ferrite real-time tuner 45 kVA transformer has arrived, the
power panel with breakers, fusible disconnect switches for the 480 and
120/208, and Hubbell connectors are awaiting quotes on price and
availability. The transformer is being installed in the C-Mod cell.
Racks for the FFT control and protection electronics are being
prepared.

Refurbishment continued on antenna feedthroughs, current straps, and
back plates.


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

On Monday, October 16, Catherine Fiore was in Chicago attending a
meeting of the APS Committee on the Status of Women in Physics.

Miklos Porkolab participated in the International Advisory Committees
review of K-STAR in Korea (Oct. 11, 12) and EAST, in Hefei, China
(Oct. 13,14) before traveling to the IAEA meeting in Chengdu.

Paul Bonoli, Darin Ernst, Robert Granetz, Jerry Hughes, Valerie Izzo,
Ian Hutchinson, Bruce Lipschultz, Earl Marmar, Miklos Porkolab, John
Rice, Steve Scott (PPPL), and Steve Wukitch attended the IAEA Meeting in
Chengdu, China last week.
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