Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
                September 8, 2008


FY2008 weeks of research operations:
   Target: 15 weeks
   Completed:  15.7 weeks


Operations
----------

The upper half of the flywheel housing was re-installed last week
following the successful completion of the flywheel inspection.  The
ultrasonic inspection of the alternator rotor was also completed last
week, and we are awaiting analysis of the results by GE.  We are working
with GE to replace G10 blocking on the rotor that will eliminate the
possibility of slot insulation migration.

Work continued on the vessel heater refurbishment, changes to the LN2 TF
cooling manifold, upgrades to the TF instrumentation cabling, and
refurbishment of the OH stack G10 shroud.


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

Work continued on the solid state IPA systems and upgrades to the 480 V
power for FMIT 3 and 4.


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

We continued high power testing of the 4-way splitter and transformer
matching system.  Temperature measurements are being made for comparison
with simulation results.  Work has begun on an optical fault detector
system to view the lower hybrid launcher couplers from the vacuum side.


Diagnostic Neutral Beam
-----------------------

A DNB target chamber is being fabricated to allow time-resolved
measurements of the beam diameter during a beam pulse.  These
measurements will determine the possible influence of thermal distortion
on the HV grids.  The target chamber will also be used to measure the
effectiveness of the beam shutter.  This target chamber can only be
installed while the C-Mod tokamak is in its current disassembled state.
All vacuum hardware has been purchased, the target flange is being
machined, and welding of the chamber has begun.  An IR video camera will
be used to make temperature profile measurements.  The DNB systems have
been brought back online, and the beam is currently firing at 50 kV and
5.5-6 amps with pulse lengths up to 200 ms.  Next week the cryopumps
will be filled with liquid helium, enabling full-length full-performance
pulse operation.

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