Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
                 May 26, 2009
                   

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


Physics
-------

We continued to have meetings last week to consider proposals from the
last Ideas Forum.  The post-Ideas Forum planning meeting for the H-mode
Scenarios task force was held on Tuesday, with remote participation from
PPPL and the ITER Organization, Cadarache. During these meetings the
relevance of the proposals to the overall physics program was
considered, priorities were assessed, and consideration given to the
amount of run time required.  Several ideas were consolidated into a
single experimental proposal, and responsibility for writing
Mini-proposals for the high priority experiments was assigned.


Operations
----------

In-vessel work in preparation for pump-down continued last week with
installation of collection and relay optics and calibration of the MSE
system.  A heat shield will be installed around the collection and relay
optics to reduce thermally generated stress induced birefringence in one
of the primary lenses.  Installation of the AB and GH limiters was also
completed over the weekend and holiday, allowing several calibrations to
proceed.

Alignment of the alternator to the flywheel was completed on Monday
evening, 5/25, pending review of the vendor's measurements by MIT.
Vibration monitoring and interlock systems for the alternator were
verified and calibrated by our vendor last week and found to be ready
for operation.


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

We continue to receive new components from our vendors for the lower
hybrid launcher.  Fabrication of forward waveguides and vacuum windows
continued, as did assembly of the 4-way splitters.  Code for the coupler
protection system for the new launcher continued to be developed, and
threshold levels are being determined.


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

Optimization of the FMIT#3 intermediate power amplifier matching to the
final amplifier stage has been successfully completed.  The FMIT
transmitters are being tuned to 78 MHz in preparation for initial plasma
operation at that frequency.  Installation of the fast ferrite tuners in
the cell began last week, as did installation of other in-cell antenna
coupling components.


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

Gheni Abla and David Schissel, both of GA, visited last week to confer
on a joint project to build a prototype "Operations Request Gateway" for
ITER.  The gateway would enable remote control of selected ITER
functions.

Dave Mikkelsen, PPPL, visited last week as part of his regular
collaboration on transport modeling.  He also spent time planning
experiments for the upcoming campaign.

Stewart Zweben, PPPL, was at MIT all last week helping to set up imaging
cameras in preparation for the FY2009 run campaign. He also helped in
re-commissioning the Gas-Puff-Imaging diagnostics.  He consulted with
C-Mod scientists about near-term priorities in the edge turbulence area.

Perry Phillips, UTex, visited last week to participate in the
re-installation of the upgraded ECE system.  Igor Bespamyatnov, UTex,
was at MIT to help with the installation of the CXRS systems.

Earl Marmar attended the joint meeting of the IEA Executive Committees
for the Large Tokamak and Poloidal Divertor Implementing Agreements, May
21-22, at JET.  Discussions included recent and planned international
personnel assignments, and proposed amendments to the Large Tokamak
agreement to effectively combine it with the Poloidal Divertor
agreement. Dr. Marmar also delivered a presentation on status and plans
for Alcator C-Mod.


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