Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
               February 2, 2009

FY2009 weeks of research operations:
  Target: TBD
  Completed:  0 weeks



Operations
----------

Alcator C-Mod was moved from the assembly stand back to the center of
the cell last week and placed in position on the lower dome.  The upper
wedge plate that helps support the TF arms against out-of-plane forces
was then installed.  Installation of the upper TF arms has also begun.

The vendor contracted to remove a ring sample from the alternator rotor
bore arrived on-site on Thursday and machining of the rotor began on
Saturday.  We expect the ring sample to be removed by the end of this
week. Based on a preliminary look at the turnings from the machining
operations, the material appears to behave in a manner which is
consistent with good ductility.


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

We continued fabrication of the 2nd launcher components both at our
in-house machine shop and at outside vendor locations.  Work continued
on the transmitter protection system (TPS) upgrade.  The design of the
upgrade has progressed to the point that programming of the complex
programmable logic device (CPLD) could begin.


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

Work continued on the installation of the 2nd IPA unit for FMIT#3.  The
DC power supplies have been connected to the solid-state amplifier.


Diagnostics
-----------

The study of antenna-plasma interactions and coupling during RF heating
and current drive is greatly influenced by the SOL density profile. A
swept-frequency X-mode reflectometer is being built for Alcator C-Mod to
measure the SOL density profiles in front of the new Lower Hybrid
Launcher and the new ICRF antenna. The system is planned to operate in
X-Mode between 100 and 146 GHz, with sweep times from 10 micro-sec to 1
ms, over a density range of approximately 1.0e16 to 1.0e20 m-3, with a
toroidal magnetic field of from 5.0 to 5.4 T. Six waveguide pairs will
give measurements at the top, middle, and bottom of the lower hybrid
launcher and ICRF antenna. These measurements should confirm the
self-consistent SOL density profiles and determine if there are poloidal
asymmetries in the density profile. These data will then be used in
conjunction with antenna electrical measurements to validate ICRF/LH
codes for antenna/plasma coupling.


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

Dennis Whyte visited Los Alamos National Laboratory to present a
colloquium on "PSI issues in ITER & Beyond", as well as tour the LANL
ion beam and tritium recovery facilities.  He also visited San Diego to
discuss details of the OFES FY2009 joint facility milestone on fuel
retention with members of the DIII-D staff.

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