Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights November 9, 2009 FY2010 weeks of research operations Base Target: tbd ARRA Target: 5 weeks Completed: 2.3 weeks Operations ----------- Last week was a scheduled maintenance week at Alcator C-Mod. No plasma operations were planned. The vessel has been undergoing a 120C bake and ECDC (electron cyclotron discharge cleaning) in preparation for resuming C-Mod operation this week. ICRF Systems ------------ We completed tuning the FMIT#3 and #4 transmitters for 50 MHz and tested FMIT#2 with a new tetrode in the final stage to 2 MW into a dummy load. All four ICRF transmitters are ready for operation. A meeting was held with Bob Pinsker (GA), Phil Ryan (ORNL), Rick Goulding (ORNL), Dave Rasmussen (ORNL), and Phillipe Lamalle (ITER) to discuss the rotated antenna during the 51st APS-DPP meeting in Atlanta. The discussion focused on the advantages and disadvantages of the antenna design. We will have a video conference to discuss the complete design in December but will proceed with manufacturing development for the current design. In addition, we discussed the antenna design with Dick Majeski (PPPL), particularly how it departs from the design of the J-port antenna. We have made a significant change to the geometry to ensure proper current amplitude and phase on each antenna element. We have found a balanced strap design that is well behaved in the models. Lower Hybrid System ------------------- Four waveguides and splitters are presently at the vendor for welding. Waveguides and splitters will be picked up and delivered to the vendor on a daily basis. All the waveguides that connect from the "Jungle Gym" to the klystrons have arrived on site. The waveguides have been checked and labled and are ready for installation. Arpa upgrade activities ------------------------ The order for 2 additional ICRF final power amplifier tubes has been placed with the vendor, completing a portion of one of the FY10 Q1 quarterly ARRA milestones. Travel and Visitors ------------------- Most members of the C-Mod national team were in Atlanta last week for the 51st APS-DPP meeting. Presentations made by the team can be viewed on the web at http://www.psfc.mit.edu/research/alcator/pubs/APS/APS2009/atlanta2009index.htm and include 5 invited talks, 1 invited tutorial, 15 contributed orals, and 31 contributed poster presentations. _______________________________________________ Cmod_weekly mailing list Cmod_weekly@lists.psfc.mit.edu http://lists.psfc.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/cmod_weekly