Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights February 9, 2009 FY2009 weeks of research operations: Target: TBD Completed: 0 weeks Program Advisory Committee Meeting ---------------------------------- The 2009 C-Mod PAC meeting was held at MIT from Feb 4 to Feb 6. On the committee this year were, Rich Hawryluk (PPPL), Chair, Richard Fitzpatrick (U. Tx.), Yutaka Kamada (JAEA), Steve Knowlton (Auburn U.), Alberto Loarte (ITER), Craig Petty (GA), George Sips (EFDA/JET), Paul Terry (U. Wisc.), and Rostom Dagazian (OFES, ex-officio). The PAC was asked to provide advice on our overall programmatic priorities and objectives, in the context of C-Mod's place in the national and international fusion program, including considerations of priority R&D needs for ITER. We will emphasize near term research for FY2009, plans for the FY2010 and FY2011 campaigns, and facility and diagnostic upgrade plans through 2013. Presentations on physics and facility results and plans were made by the C-Mod team on Feb 4th and 5th. Links to the agenda and the presentations may be found at http://www.psfc.mit.edu/research/alcator/pubs/Cmod_PAC_2009.html The panel provided the C-Mod team with an initial debriefing on Friday morning. They will provide a written report in the near future. OFES Quarterly Review --------------------- On Thursday, Feb 5, we held a C-Mod quarterly review. In attendance were Rostom Dagazian, Earl Marmar, Miklos Porkolab and Jim Irby. Since we had just completed more than 7 hours of presentations to the Program Advisory Committee on C-Mod status and plans, there were no additional presentations associated with the review. Topics discussed included near term incremental budget priorities, and the schedule for resumption of C-Mod operations. Physics ------- A new method of modeling the coupling of rf waves into the plasma using COMSOL is being developed by Syun'ichi Shiraiwa. COMSOL is a commercially available multi-purpose PDE solver based on the finite element method, and its RF module can handle spatially inhomogeneous material. Simulation results of the lower hybrid wave propagation seamlessly model both the launcher (vacuum region) and SOL (plasma region). Techniques to handle large 3D geometry of the poloidal or toroidal cross-section have been developed and their consistency with analytic formulas verified. Preliminary results of steep density gradient effects on LH wave propagation and poloidal curvature effects at the mouth of grill have been obtained. Operations ---------- The upper TF arms have been installed and installation of the associated spring-plates is underway. We also continued work on the heater and horizontal boot refurbishments. Last Friday the vendor successfully completed removal of a ring sample from the alternator rotor core. We are now preparing the sample for a variety of tests including UT inspections, scanning electron and optical micrographs, and fracture toughness measurements. Lower Hybrid System ------------------- Work continued on documentation of the transmitter protection system (TPS) in preparation for conversion to a complex programmable logic device (CPLD) based system. Design of the rf probe system for the new launcher continued. Location of the electronics for this system is being determined, and the orders for the I/Q detectors and feedthroughs have been placed. Testing of the SiO2 cables that will feed the probe signals out of the vacuum vessel is under way. ICRF Systems ------------ Work continued on installation of the solid-state IPA for FMIT#3. This system is nearly ready for testing. Travel and Visits ----------------- Prof. Dr. Hartmut Zohm visited the C-Mod group February 5 & 6 to discuss the C-Mod and ASDEX-Upgrade (AUG) programs. Dr. Zohm is the IPP director in charge of 'tokamak scenario development', basically all science inside the separatrix in AUG. Meetings were held on energetic particles, pedestal, SOL & divertor, ICRF, and Lower hybrid physics areas. Dr. Zohm also gave a seminar to the PSFC on ASDEX-Upgrade results and plans. Guenter Janeschitz, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, visited the PSFC on Friday, February 6, 2009 and presented a seminar on the technical and administrative status of ITER. He also had discussions with Ron Parker and others on the status of ITER. Igor Bespamyatnov, UT-FRC, represented the FRC group during the C-Mod PAC meeting last week, and met with Bob Granetz to discuss the analysis of the beam width measurement using an IR camera. Chuck Kessel, PPPL, visited last week to participate in the PAC meeting. He also discussed TSC modeling of C-Mod discharges and plans for future experiments with Steve Wolfe. _______________________________________________ Cmod_weekly mailing list Cmod_weekly@lists.psfc.mit.edu http://lists.psfc.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cmod_weekly