Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
                 May 11, 2009
                    

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


Operations
----------

Installation of horizontal flanges and the upper and lower crosses and
T's that allow installation of multiple 10" flanges continued last week.
Installation of the error field correction coils that mount off the
igloo has been completed.  Instrumentation cabling is being run,
connected, and tested.  On Friday installation of all cabling needed to
operate the vessel heater system was completed.  The vessel heaters are
needed to maintain the vacuum vessel at 35 to 60 C during normal
operation and to bake the machine following up-to-air periods.

By last Friday, the alternator rotor was back in its operating position
and resting on its bearings.  Over the weekend, the upper bearing
housings were assembled and aligned, the oil lift pumps were brought
into operation, and the rotor was spun manually.  A teleconference was
held with the vendor chosen to perform the stator Hi-Pots during which
the procedures were discussed and voltage levels agreed upon.


Lower Hybrid Systems
--------------------

The prototype 4-way splitter, including the matching transformer,
forward waveguide sections and vacuum windows, has been successfully
operated for 0.5 s to the full power available from a single klystron
(~250 kW).  Components needed for the new launcher continue to arrive
in-house from our vendors and machine shops.

We continued work on the LH Probe Protection Circuit (PPC). Coding for
SRAM read/write module for the PPC has been completed.  Simulation
software for this new system is being developed.


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

We continue to work on the FMIT#3 driver section.  The match between the
intermediate power amplifier and the driver has been improved.

Preparations are being made for bringing all the transmitters on-line
for the FY2009 campaign.


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

Congressman Jerry McNerney (California, 11'th district) visited MIT last
Friday afternoon.  Following a discussion on fusion research, he was
given a tour of C-Mod by Earl Marmar and Miklos Porkolab.  Claude
Canizares, MIT VP for Research, also joined in the tour and discussion.

Catherine Fiore, Paul Bonoli, and John Wright were in Denver, CO, last
week at the April combined APS/Sherwood Theory Meeting.

Bruce Lipschultz was at the divertor/scrape-off layer ITPA meeting in
Amsterdam, May 5-8. He is the international chair for this group.

Amanda Hubbard attended a meeting of the Research Needs Workshop
Executive Committee in Austin, TX May 5-7.

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