Alcator C-Mod Run 1040325 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:307
Date Filed: 6/19/2002
Title:High Bootstrap Fraction Regimes
First Author:Ron Parker
Session Leader:Ron Parker (shots 1-23)
Miniproposal:384
Date Filed: 2/2/2004
Title:Experiments on Plasma Flows and the L-H Threshold: low density discharges, limited versus diverted t
First Author:Brian Labombard
Session Leader:Brian Labombard (shots 24-33)

Operators
Session leader(s):Ron Parker,Brian Labombard
Physics operator(s):Robert Granetz
Engineering operator(s): Unknown

Engineering Operator Run Comment
MP 307: High bootstrap-fraction regimes SL: R. Parker PO: R. Granetz EO:

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:04:147PM
Author: Ron Parker
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Run Summary

The purpose of the run was to try to optimize bootstrap current in ITB
discharges. The plan was to begin with one of the more successful ITB
discharges obtained on shot 1040309029 that had not only good density
peaking, but also a central temperature increase with application of
central ICRF power. This was to be a continuation of MP 307, which was
not successful in a previous run because of strong impurity radiation
and the lack of central ICRF power.

Unfortunately we were not able to produce relatively stable ITB's. ITB's
were formed on most shots but terminated before they could be stablized
by central power. unlike the earlier attempt at MP 309, the problem was
not obviously due to radiative collapse of the center. But no indication
of central heating due to on axis power was found. After 23 shots, we
decided to not pursue this MP further and switched Session Leaders
to B. Labombard.

On reflection, it is dubious that ITB's are optimal for high bootstrap
fractions because they are rather narrow except possibly at low q. But
at low q (high current), the poloidal field is strong and the bootstrap
fraction tends to be low.Thus, although the strong density gradient is
attractive, the combination of strong poloidal field and localization
of grad n near the center is working against a high bootstrap fraction.
What was special about shot 1040309029 was the central temperature rise,as
this also promotes high bootstrap fraction.But this could not be reproduced
in this run.

Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:04:163PM
Author: Brian Labombard
Run Summary for 1040325b
This is a summary for shots starting at 24, MP#384

Physics Operator: R, Granetz
Session Leader: B. LaBombard
______________________________________________________________________________
MP#384 - Experiments on Plasma Flows and the L-H Threshold:
low density discharges, limited versus diverted topologies and the role of neutrals

Purpose:
Explore relationships between edge plasma flows, magnetic topologies,
and the L-H power threshold.

This is the second run devoted to this MP, focusing on lower-limited
and lower x-point topologies.


Shot Plan:
All shots are 0.8MA, 5.4 tesla discharges.

C. Effect of inner divertor nose recycling on SOL/core momentum coupling
- and -
D. L-H Thresholds in Lower Limited versus Lower Diverted Discharges

Set probe scan times to 0.7 and 0.9 seconds.
Program RF power ramp of 0.5 to 1.5 MW over time interval 0.95 to 1.5 sec.

Shot A - Reload from 1040213028 which was a SNL discharge with NORMAL inner
divertor nose gap. Find L-H threshold power at NL04=0.6e20
Record flows.

Shot B - Reload from 1040213027 - a SNL discharge with SMALL inner
divertor nose gap. Find L-H threshold power at NL04=0.6e20
Record flows.

Shot C - Program lower x-point position to LIMIT discharge on inner divertor nose
Find L-H threshold power at NL04=0.6e20
Record flows.

Cycle through shots A, B, C until a good matched set is achieved.
"good match" = clean RF ramp with same NL04 at L-H transition time.

Repeat this for NL04=0.9e20

Repeat this for NL04=1.2e20 (or go directly to part E)


E. (Extra credit) Effect of Inner Gap

Repeat Shot A at NL04=0.9e20 with successively reduced inner gaps: 4, 2, 0 mm
Map change in L-H threshold powers
Record flows => do not scan ISP!
______________________________________________________________________________
Result:
A very good start on the balance of this MP. We managed to setup Shots A,B,C
as outlined in the run plan and to begin to optimize the probe targeting.
It is clear from the shots today that the L-H threshold does not care whether
the plasma has a lower x-point or is limited on the inner divertor nose.
With further optimization, we should be able to get good flow info, up to the
separatrix.

Martin noticed some interesting ELM behavior on the LIMITED shots, 31, 32.
______________________________________________________________________________
Detailed Shot log:

24 - SNL, normal inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+10), FSP(-5), ISP
=> L-H at 1.07 s, 0.89 MW, NL04=0.89
25 - SNL, normal inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+10), FSP(-5), ISP
=> L-H at 1.12 s, 1.0 MW, NL04=0.8
26 - SNL, normal inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+10), FSP(-5), ISP
target changed. ASP FSP too far out.
=> L-H at 1.04 s, 0.8 MW, NL04=0.57
27 - SNL, normal inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+14), FSP(1), ISP
target changed back on FSP!
=> No H-mode
28 - SNL, NORMAL inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+14), FSP(-4), ISP
=> L-H at 1.27 s, 1.3 MW, NL04=0.7
29- SNL, SMALL inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+10), FSP(+8), ISP
=> L-H at 1.19s, 1.0 MW, NL04=0.72
30- SNL, SMALLer inner divertor nose gap. ASP(+10), FSP(+8)(should have been +12), ISP
=> L-H at 1.2s, 1.18 MW, NL04=0.64
31- SNL, LIMITED on inner divertor nose ASP(+12), FSP(+12), ISP
=> L-H at 1.11s, 1.0 MW, NL04=0.63
32- SNL, LIMITED on inner divertor nose ASP(+17) -too deep, FSP(+22) -too deep, ISP
=> L-H at 1.19s, 1.15 MW, NL04=0.67

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 04:36:49:660PM
Author: Robert Granetz
Physics operator summary for run 1040325 (Thursday):

MP 307 -- High bootstrap-fraction regimes
MP 384 -- Plasma flows and L-H threshold in different configurations

Session leader: R. Parker (MP 307) / B. Labombard (MP 384)
Physics operator: R. Granetz

Summary: All tokamak systems ran very reliably today. We had no fizzles,
and only one shot that had a computer problem, and one shot that
had the breakers pull out early.

Two MP's were worked on today. MP 307 (high bootstrap fraction)
required good steady ITB's. We couldn't these high quality ITB's,
presumably because of impurity conditions, so we eventually
switched to MP 384 around 15:00. We got a good start on this MP,
which involves running similar plasma conditions in three
different magnetic configurations: SNL, SNL barely touching the
inboard nose, and hard limited on the inboard nose.

The PCS programming on the last shot (1040325033) contains the
following:
All segments (2,3,4): have 0.8 MA, 5.4-5.5 T, nl_04=0.55e20 m-2,
with the following differences:
Segment 2: lower null
Segment 3: separatrix just touches inboard nose
Segment 4: limited on inboard nose
This shot's PCS programming should be used to continue Brian's MP 384.

Scorecard: 32 plasmas
0 fizzles
1 dud (breakers pulled out)
0 tests or no-power shot cycles
0 aborted and/or screwed up by computer problems
0 beam-into-gas calibration shots with B-field(s)
----------
33 total

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Engineering setup for Thursday, 25 Mar 2004

MP 307: High bootstrap-fraction regimes
MP 384: Plasma flows and L-H threshold in different configurations

Session leader: R. Parker (MP 307) / B. Labombard (MP 384)
Physics operator: R. Granetz

ECDC overnight in D2 at 2e-4 Torr, stopping by 07:00.

Run begins at 09:00 and ends at 17:00.

Power systems the same as 1040309029 (0.8 MA, 4.4 T, lower X-point)

A-coils should be disabled.

Gas setup:
fill B-Top with 6 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG4)
fill B-side lower with 1 psi Ar Hybrid enabled (PG1)
leave B-side upper as is Hybrid DISABLED (PG2)
fill C-side with 30 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG3)

Disable NINJA

Enable the following gate valves, assuming no vacuum problems:
ECE, VUV, DNB

Necessary diagnostics:
Visible bremsstrahlung, ECE, Thomson, HIREX
Desirable diagnostics:
DNB/MSE

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RF Setup: All four transmitters in RUN-ON by 08:00. D and E at 80 MHz,
J3 and J4 at 70 MHz.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run Plan: Begin by trying to reproduce shot 1040309029, an ITB shot with 4
MW of two-frequency RF at 4.4 T. Then ramp current down after
ITB formation in increments of 100 kA. Compare with forming ITB
with steady current, beginning at 800 kA and decreasing in
increments of 100 kA.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ECDC was done overnight, but no bake.

Hybrid coldstart done by the engineering group; no errors found

Loaded PCS segments 2,3,4 from shot 1040309029,
PCS segment 1 from shot 1040324031

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shot 01 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good 2-freq RF. Got an ITB, but it dropped
out early.

Next shot: no PCS changes.

Shot 02 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good 2-freq RF. Got an ITB, but it didn't
last long enough.

Next shot: no PCS changes. Increase off-axis RF power by 0.5 MW
(to 2.8 MW)

Shot 03 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.2 s. Got a good ITB, but it died
before the on-axis heating turned on.

Next shot: turn on 0.8 MW of on-axis at t=1.0, followed by
additional 0.8 MW at t=1.2 s (Catherine's suggestion).

Shot 04 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. Got an ITB, but it still didn't
last.

Next shot: Turn on the 2nd half of the on-axis RF at t=1.1 s,
rather than 1.2 s.

Shot 05 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. Good ITB, but it doesn't last.

Next shot: turn on all the on-axis RF at t=1.0 s.

Shot 06 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. The EDA H-mode lasted noticeably
longer this time, but the peaking arrested at t=1.0 s and even
started to relax.

Next shot: move RXL out by 1 cm. Keep RF programming the same.

Shot 07 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. EDA lasted a very long time, but
there was no peaking.

Next shot: repeat, no changes

Shot 08 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.97 s. It looks like it was going into
a really strong ITB, but there was an injection.

Next shot: repeat one last time

Shot 09 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.0 s, just like the previous shot.

Next shot: move RXL in by 0.5 cm (partially undoing the change I
made after shot 06).

Shot 10 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.23, which is progress. An ITB
started, but the on-axis RF reversed it.

Next shot: go back to staggering the on-axis RF turnons

Shot 11 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.9 s.

Next shot: go back to shot 06, including the RF programming.

Shot 12 -- Plasma. Disrupted, but not until t=1.3 s. ITB formed, but then
transitioned back at t=1.0 s when the on-axis RF turns on.

Next shot: repeat

Shot 13 -- Plasma. Disrupted early, at t=0.7 s.

Next shot: move RXL out by 2 cm

Shot 14 -- Plasma. Good shot -- full length. Long H-mode, but no peaking.
Several dropouts on the RF may have prevented the ITB.

Next shot: repeat, no changes

Shot 15 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.84 s.

Next shot: reload shot 01 (which is the same as 1040309029),
including RF programming.

Shot 16 -- Plasma. Good shot. Multiple EDA's, but only several EN ITB's.

Next shot: one last try. Also tweak Ip trace near the segment
switch to try and get rid of the early glitch.

Shot 17 -- Plasma. Good shot. Multiple EDA's, but no ITB's. The glitch
in the early Ip is fixed.

Next shot: raise nl_04 target density by 10% (nl_04=1.1e20 m-2)
and program some PG3 gas puffing early in segment 2.

Shot 18 -- Plasma. Good shot. Got a strong ITB, but again it didn't
last. Got the higher target density.

Next shot: no PCS changes, but change the on-axis RF so that 0.8
MW comes on at t=1.1 s and the other 0.8 MW comes on at t=1.3 s.

NOTE: apparently I did not actually reload shot 01 for shot 16, contrary to
my logbook entry. This means that RXL is still +2 cm from where we started
today's run.

Shot 19 -- Plasma. Good shot. Got a brief ITB, but then it dropped out.

Next shot: load RXL from shot 01 today (which I meant to do
prior to shot 16, but apparently didn't)

Shot 20 -- Plasma. Good shot. Best ITB of the day so far. It terminated
at t=1.3 s.

Next shot: reduce Btor by 2% to 4.4 T

Shot 21 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good EDA, but no ITB. Looks like lower
Btor is not the way to go.

Next shot: try raising Btor to 4.6 T

Shot 22 -- Plasma. Disrupted during rampdown. One long EDA, but not much
of an ITB. Looks like the optimal field really is 4.5 T.

Next shot: put Btor back at 4.5 T, and lower Ip to 0.7 MA for
the entire shot.

Shot 23 -- Plasma. Good shot. No H-mode, even though there was 2.0 MW of
off-axis RF.

End of Ron's MP 307. Switch to Brian's MP 384.

Next shot: load 1040213028 and tweak Btor back to 5.4 T (instead
of 5.7 T). This shot has Ip=0.8 MA and nl_04=0.6e20 m-2, SNL.

Shot 24 -- Plasma. Good shot. D and E RF ramped from 0.5 to 1.5 MW, as
requested. This is now normal on-axis heating, since Bt=5.49 T.
H-mode threshold was around 0.85 MW.

Next shot: repeat for Brian's probes

Shot 25 -- Plasma. Good shot. Threshold is more like 1.0 MW, maybe
because the density is slightly higher.

Next shot: decrease nl_04 to 0.5e20 m-2 (from 0.6). Also tweak
RCUR to increase outer gap a couple of mm.

Shot 26 -- Plasma. Really weird startup with huge amounts of runaways and
hard x-rays. I didn't change anything early in the shot, so I
don't understand why this happened. The rest of the shot was
fairly normal. Outer gap behavior is acceptable to Brian.

Next shot: no PCS changes

Shot 27 -- Plasma. Good shot. Normal startup, even though I didn't change
a thing. However, there was no H-mode. Prf=0.5-1.5 MW.

Next shot: increase nl_04 to 0.55e20 m-2 (from 0.50e20)

Shot 28 -- Plasma. Good shot. Two short H-modes.

Next shot: load shot 1040213027 segment 2 into segment 3. (This
shot had the separatrix almost touching the inboard nose.)
Change Bt to 150 kA and reload nl_04 from shot 28 today.
Turn on segment 3 and turn off segment.

Shot 29 -- Plasma. Good shot. Several short H-modes. The gap to the
inboard nose is about 1 cm, which is a little more than we
want. H-mode threshold was similar to previous shots.

Next shot: move RXL in by 1 cm to try and reduce the gap.

Shot 30 -- Plasma. Good shot. The separatrix just kissed the inboard
nose...exactly what we wanted. Still got H-modes, and still had
a similar power threshold.

Next shot: load segment 3 into segment 4, turn on segment 4 and
turn off segment 3, and move RXL in segment 4 another 2 cm in,
in order to limit the plasma on the inboard nose.

Shot 31 -- Plasma. Good shot. Limited on inboard nose. Still got an
H-mode, with similar threshold power as diverted plasmas. The
inner gap is too big.

Next shot: increase RXL by 1 cm (in segment 4) to try and reduce
the inner wall gap at the midplane while still staying limited
on the inboard nose.

Shot 32 -- Dud. Breakers pulled out at the beginning of pulse. Alternator
voltage had drooped.

Next shot: try again.

Shot 33 -- Plasma. Good shot. Limited on inboard nose. Inner gap to
midplane was slightly smaller, but probably not small enough.
Got an H-mode, same power threshold.

The PCS programming on this shot contains the following:
All segments (2,3,4): 0.8 MA, 5.4-5.5 T, nl_04=0.55e20 m-2, and
Segment 2: lower null
Segment 3: separatrix just touches inboard nose
Segment 4: limited on inboard nose
This shot's PCS programming should be used to continue Brian's
MP 384.

End of run.

Session Leader Comments
Mar 25 2004 09:38:56:183AM1040325001Ron ParkerWe are trying to optimize ITB discharge for high bootstrap fraction/

Initial approach will be to reproduce the 1040309029 shot, then lower
current either by ramping down during ITB or by steps.

First shot wasn't bad, but ITB disappeared before the central heating pulse.
Mar 25 2004 09:26:08:523AM1040325002Ron ParkerShot 2 again had a back transition before central power pulse turned on.
Mar 25 2004 09:36:46:020AM1040325003Ron ParkerOn that shot, barrier formed but discharge collapsed before J port came on.

On next shot, we'll step J port, .8 MW at t =1 s, followed by additional
0.8 MW at 1.2 s.
Mar 25 2004 09:54:11:380AM1040325004Ron ParkerShot 4 got closer to what we want, but back transisted although remaining peaked.
Mar 25 2004 10:03:38:670AM1040325005Ron ParkerShots are peaking nicely, but quenching before full J port power.

Next: Full J port power at 1 s.
Mar 25 2004 10:37:01:993AM1040325006Ron ParkerShot 6 had full RF power from J port which stopped the peaking.
Central density only reached 4e20.
Mar 25 2004 10:27:14:297AM1040325007Ron ParkerShot 7 had an early back transition. We had moved the x point out
1 cm to try to reduce impurity influx.
Mar 25 2004 10:37:59:310AM1040325008Ron ParkerShot 8 disrupted.
Mar 25 2004 10:55:34:910AM1040325009Ron ParkerShot 9 disrupted again. Move X point back 0.5 cm (to inside)
Mar 25 2004 11:07:05:130AM1040325010Ron ParkerPlasma still disrupted, but later. On axis RF power will be stepped, from 1
turning on at 1 s to 1.5 at 150 ms.
Mar 25 2004 11:19:40:570AM1040325011Ron ParkerStill disrupting, back to shot 6.
Mar 25 2004 11:35:57:270AM1040325012Ron ParkerShot 12 ran better but still disrupted.
Mar 25 2004 11:40:36:403AM1040325013Ron ParkerStill disrupts, can't recover from the disruptions!
Mar 25 2004 11:49:51:750AM1040325013Ron Parker
Next shot, move discharge 2 cm outside.
Mar 25 2004 12:05:39:890PM1040325014Ron ParkerShot 14 went and did not disrupt. But no ITB.
Run shot again.
Mar 25 2004 12:14:11:600PM1040325015Ron ParkerShot 14 disrupted. We'll try to reload shot 1 (lower RF power, diverted inside).
Mar 25 2004 12:33:50:860PM1040325016Ron ParkerShot 16 had no ITB. Try one more time. If unsuccessful, turn run over
to Brian.
Mar 25 2004 12:41:05:880PM1040325017Ron ParkerAgain, no ITB. As a last resort, we'll increase target density by 10%.

Mar 25 2004 01:59:06:200PM1040325018Ron ParkerShot 18 ran with the increased target density and brief ITB.
Mar 25 2004 01:59:53:420PM1040325019Ron ParkerShot 19 also had a brief ITB, but back transition before on axis htg.
Mar 25 2004 02:02:54:237PM1040325020Ron ParkerShot 20 looked promising with an ITB lasting about .25 s
Next: lower field by ~ 2%.
Mar 25 2004 02:08:37:857PM1040325021Ron ParkerNo ITB, increase field by 4% (2% relative to earler settings)
Mar 25 2004 02:23:38:527PM1040325022Ron ParkerShot 22 had a weak ITB. Looks like optimum field is 4.5 T.

Now lower current to 700 kA.
Mar 25 2004 02:41:27:710PM1040325023Ron ParkerShot 23 had lower current, 700 ka. No H-mode, no barrier. No more shots on this MP

Brian takes over.
Mar 25 2004 03:13:44:980PM1040325024Brian Labombard Start MP#384 - Flows and L-H thresholds

Shot 24 LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.07 s, 0.89 MW
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.7, 0.9 seconds
ASP - too far out
FSP - near sep.
ISP - ok

Next shot: repeat with probes further in


Mar 25 2004 03:36:05:513PM1040325025Brian LabombardShot 25 LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.12 s, 1.0 MW, and NL04=0.8
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - funny
FSP - ok
ISP - ok

Next shot: repeat
Mar 25 2004 03:45:01:860PM1040325026Brian LabombardShot 26 LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.04 s, 0.8 MW, and NL04=0.57
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - ok now, but too far out
FSP - too far out
ISP - ok

Next shot: repeat
Mar 25 2004 04:02:12:987PM1040325027Brian LabombardShot 27 LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, No H-mode
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - ok
FSP - way over-inserted but ok!(?)
ISP - ok

Next shot: nl04 to 0.55
Mar 25 2004 04:10:39:483PM1040325028Brian LabombardShot 28 LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.27s, 1.3MW NL04=0.7
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - ok
FSP - ok
ISP - ok

Next shot: go to SMALL inner div. nose gap
Mar 25 2004 04:25:36:767PM1040325029Brian LabombardShot 29 SMALL inner nose gap, LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.19s, 1.0MW NL04=0.72
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - ok
FSP - ok
ISP - ok

Next shot: reduce inner div. nose gap
Mar 25 2004 04:45:18:670PM1040325030Brian LabombardShot 30 SMALL inner nose gap, LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.2s, 1.18MW NL04=0.64
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - ok, could be deeper
FSP - ok, could be deeper
ISP - ok

Next shot: go to LIMITED on inner nose.
Mar 25 2004 05:32:40:580PM1040325033Brian LabombardShot 33 LIMITED on inner nose, LSN, 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla, L-H at 1.19s, 1.15MW NL04=0.67
ASP, FSP, ISP scanning at 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 seconds
ASP - ok, over-inserted
FSP - ok, cover-inserted
ISP - ok, too far out

Physics Operator Comments
Mar 24 2004 07:31:32:483PMRobert GranetzEngineering setup for Thursday, 25 Mar 2004

MP 307: High bootstrap-fraction regimes

Session leader: R. Parker
Physics operator: R. Granetz

ECDC overnight in D2 at 2e-4 Torr, stopping by 07:00.

Run begins at 09:00 and ends at 17:00.

Power systems the same as 1040309029 (0.8 MA, 4.4 T, lower X-point)

A-coils should be disabled.

Gas setup:
fill B-Top with 6 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG4)
fill B-side lower with 1 psi Ar Hybrid enabled (PG1)
leave B-side upper as is Hybrid DISABLED (PG2)
fill C-side with 30 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG3)

Disable NINJA

Enable the following gate valves, assuming no vacuum problems:
ECE, VUV, DNB

Necessary diagnostics:
Visible bremsstrahlung, ECE, Thomson, HIREX
Desirable diagnostics:
DNB/MSE

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RF Setup: All four transmitters in RUN-ON by 08:00. D and E at 80 MHz,
J3 and J4 at 70 MHz.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run Plan: Begin by trying to reproduce shot 1040309029, an ITB shot with 4
MW of two-frequency RF at 4.4 T. Then ramp current down after
ITB formation in increments of 100 kA. Compare with forming ITB
with steady current, beginning at 800 kA and decreasing in
increments of 100 kA.
Mar 25 2004 09:00:16:593AMRobert Granetz ECDC was done overnight, but no bake.

Hybrid coldstart done by the engineering group; no errors found

Loaded PCS segments 2,3,4 from shot 1040309029,
PCS segment 1 from shot 1040324031
Mar 25 2004 09:15:11:150AM1040325001Robert GranetzShot 01 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good 2-freq RF. Got an ITB, but it dropped
out early.

Next shot: no PCS changes.
Mar 25 2004 09:53:36:957AM1040325002Robert GranetzShot 02 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good 2-freq RF. Got an ITB, but it didn't
last long enough.

Next shot: no PCS changes. Increase off-axis RF power by 0.5 MW
(to 2.8 MW)
Mar 25 2004 09:36:49:897AM1040325003Robert GranetzShot 03 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.2 s. Got a good ITB, but it died
before the on-axis heating turned on.

Next shot: turn on 0.8 MW of on-axis at t=1.0, followed by
additional 0.8 MW at t=1.2 s (Catherine's suggestion).
Mar 25 2004 09:53:14:503AM1040325004Robert GranetzShot 04 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. Got an ITB, but it still didn't
last.

Next shot: Turn on the 2nd half of the on-axis RF at t=1.1 s,
rather than 1.2 s.
Mar 25 2004 10:02:51:373AM1040325005Robert GranetzShot 05 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. Good ITB, but it doesn't last.

Next shot: turn on all the on-axis RF at t=1.0 s.
Mar 25 2004 10:20:08:433AM1040325006Robert GranetzShot 06 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. The EDA H-mode lasted noticeably
longer this time, but the peaking arrested at t=1.0 s and even
started to relax.

Next shot: move RXL out by 1 cm. Keep RF programming the same.
Mar 25 2004 10:29:00:270AM1040325007Robert GranetzShot 07 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good RF. EDA lasted a very long time, but
there was no peaking.

Next shot: repeat, no changes
Mar 25 2004 10:40:36:910AM1040325008Robert GranetzShot 08 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.97 s. It looks like it was going into
a really strong ITB, but there was an injection.

Next shot: repeat one last time
Mar 25 2004 10:52:35:880AM1040325009Robert GranetzShot 09 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.0 s, just like the previous shot.

Next shot: move RXL in by 0.5 cm (partially undoing the change I
made after shot 06).
Mar 25 2004 11:05:09:663AM1040325010Robert GranetzShot 10 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.23, which is progress. An ITB
started, but the on-axis RF reversed it.

Next shot: go back to staggering the on-axis RF turnons
Mar 25 2004 11:17:52:337AM1040325011Robert GranetzShot 11 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.9 s.

Next shot: go back to shot 06, including the RF programming.
Mar 25 2004 11:31:22:727AM1040325012Robert GranetzShot 12 -- Plasma. Disrupted, but not until t=1.3 s. ITB formed, but then
transitioned back at t=1.0 s when the on-axis RF turns on.

Next shot: repeat
Mar 25 2004 11:50:38:410AM1040325013Robert GranetzShot 13 -- Plasma. Disrupted early, at t=0.7 s.

Next shot: move RXL out by 2 cm
Mar 25 2004 12:08:57:560PM1040325014Robert GranetzShot 14 -- Plasma. Good shot -- full length. Long H-mode, but no peaking.
Several dropouts on the RF may have prevented the ITB.

Next shot: repeat, no changes
Mar 25 2004 12:14:18:800PM1040325015Robert GranetzShot 15 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.84 s.

Next shot: reload shot 01 (which is the same as 1040309029),
including RF programming.
Mar 25 2004 12:33:06:110PM1040325016Robert GranetzShot 16 -- Plasma. Good shot. Multiple EDA's, but only several EN ITB's.

Next shot: one last try. Also tweak Ip trace near the segment
switch to try and get rid of the early glitch.
Mar 25 2004 01:22:57:787PM1040325016Robert GranetzNOTE: apparently I did not actually reload shot 01 for shot 16, contrary to
my logbook entry. This means that RXL is still +2 cm from where we started
today's run.
Mar 25 2004 12:44:12:597PM1040325017Robert GranetzShot 17 -- Plasma. Good shot. Multiple EDA's, but no ITB's. The glitch
in the early Ip is fixed.

Next shot: raise nl_04 target density by 10% (nl_04=1.1e20 m-2)
and program some PG3 gas puffing early in segment 2.
Mar 25 2004 01:12:32:343PM1040325018Robert GranetzShot 18 -- Plasma. Good shot. Got a strong ITB, but again it didn't
last. Got the higher target density.

Next shot: no PCS changes, but change the on-axis RF so that 0.8
MW comes on at t=1.1 s and the other 0.8 MW comes on at t=1.3 s.
Mar 25 2004 01:22:17:190PM1040325018Robert GranetzNOTE: apparently I did not actually reload shot 01 for shot 16, contrary to
my logbook entry. This means that RXL is still +2 cm from where we started
today's run.
Mar 25 2004 01:40:56:273PM1040325019Robert GranetzShot 19 -- Plasma. Good shot. Got a brief ITB, but then it dropped out.

Next shot: load RXL from shot 01 today (which I meant to do
prior to shot 16, but apparently didn't)
Mar 25 2004 02:02:43:317PM1040325020Robert GranetzShot 20 -- Plasma. Good shot. Best ITB of the day so far. It terminated
at t=1.3 s.

Next shot: reduce Btor by 2% to 4.4 T
Mar 25 2004 02:09:43:750PM1040325021Robert GranetzShot 21 -- Plasma. Good shot. Good EDA, but no ITB. Looks like lower
Btor is not the way to go.

Next shot: try raising Btor to 4.6 T
Mar 25 2004 02:25:07:670PM1040325022Robert GranetzShot 22 -- Plasma. Disrupted during rampdown. One long EDA, but not much
of an ITB. Looks like the optimal field really is 4.5 T.

Next shot: put Btor back at 4.5 T, and lower Ip to 0.7 MA for
the entire shot.
Mar 25 2004 02:49:48:227PM1040325023Robert GranetzShot 23 -- Plasma. Good shot. No H-mode, even though there was 2.0 MW of
off-axis RF.

End of Ron's MP 307. Switch to Brian's MP 384.

Next shot: load 1040213028 and tweak Btor back to 5.4 T (instead
of 5.7 T). This shot has Ip=0.8 MA and nl_04=0.6e20 m-2, SNL.
Mar 25 2004 03:02:09:213PM1040325024Robert GranetzShot 24 -- Plasma. Good shot. D and E RF ramped from 0.5 to 1.5 MW, as
requested. This is now normal on-axis heating, since Bt=5.49 T.
H-mode threshold was around 0.85 MW.

Next shot: repeat for Brian's probes
Mar 25 2004 03:30:34:053PM1040325025Robert GranetzShot 25 -- Plasma. Good shot. Threshold is more like 1.0 MW, maybe
because the density is slightly higher.

Next shot: decrease nl_04 to 0.5e20 m-2 (from 0.6). Also tweak
RCUR to increase outer gap a couple of mm.
Mar 25 2004 03:50:40:727PM1040325026Robert GranetzShot 26 -- Plasma. Really weird startup with huge amounts of runaways and
hard x-rays. I didn't change anything early in the shot, so I
don't understand why this happened. The rest of the shot was
fairly normal. Outer gap behavior is acceptable to Brian.

Next shot: no PCS changes
Mar 25 2004 03:59:14:180PM1040325027Robert GranetzShot 27 -- Plasma. Good shot. Normal startup, even though I didn't change
a thing. However, there was no H-mode. Prf=0.5-1.5 MW.

Next shot: increase nl_04 to 0.55e20 m-2 (from 0.50e20)
Mar 25 2004 04:15:41:370PM1040325028Robert GranetzShot 28 -- Plasma. Good shot. Two short H-modes.

Next shot: load shot 1040213027 segment 2 into segment 3. (This
shot had the separatrix almost touching the inboard nose.)
Change Bt to 150 kA and reload nl_04 from shot 28 today.
Turn on segment 3 and turn off segment.
Mar 25 2004 04:24:54:950PM1040325029Robert GranetzShot 29 -- Plasma. Good shot. Several short H-modes. The gap to the
inboard nose is about 1 cm, which is a little more than we
want. H-mode threshold was similar to previous shots.

Next shot: move RXL in by 1 cm to try and reduce the gap.
Mar 25 2004 04:44:24:447PM1040325030Robert GranetzShot 30 -- Plasma. Good shot. The separatrix just kissed the inboard
nose...exactly what we wanted. Still got H-modes, and still had
a similar power threshold.

Next shot: load segment 3 into segment 4, turn on segment 4 and
turn off segment 3, and move RXL in segment 4 another 2 cm in,
in order to limit the plasma on the inboard nose.
Mar 25 2004 04:57:21:233PM1040325031Robert GranetzShot 31 -- Plasma. Good shot. Limited on inboard nose. Still got an
H-mode, with similar threshold power as diverted plasmas. The
inner gap is too big.

Next shot: increase RXL by 1 cm (in segment 4) to try and reduce
the inner wall gap at the midplane while still staying limited
on the inboard nose.
Mar 25 2004 05:46:41:180PM1040325032Robert GranetzShot 32 -- Dud. Breakers pulled out at the beginning of pulse. Alternator
voltage had drooped.

Next shot: try again.
Mar 25 2004 05:43:11:753PM1040325033Robert GranetzShot 33 -- Plasma. Good shot. Limited on inboard nose. Inner gap to
midplane was slightly smaller, but probably not small enough.
Got an H-mode, same power threshold.

The PCS programming on this shot contains the following:
All segments (2,3,4): 0.8 MA, 5.4-5.5 T, nl_04=0.55e20 m-2, and
Segment 2: lower null
Segment 3: separatrix just touches inboard nose
Segment 4: limited on inboard nose
This shot's PCS programming should be used to continue Brian's
MP 384.

End of run.

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
109:01:55:630AMPlasmaOk
209:16:03:153AMPlasmaOk
309:28:54:500AMPlasmaOk
409:44:08:710AMPlasmaOk
509:56:44:730AMPlasmaOk
610:09:05:780AMPlasmaOk
710:21:32:063AMPlasmaOk
810:33:56:283AMPlasmaOk
910:47:22:100AMPlasmaOk
1010:59:52:200AMPlasmaOk
1111:12:27:110AMPlasmaOk
1211:25:00:690AMPlasmaOk
1311:38:01:470AMPlasmaOk
1411:54:59:073AMPlasmaOk
1512:08:43:200PMPlasmaOk
1612:21:19:170PMPlasmaOk
1712:34:53:013PMPlasmaOk
1801:01:26:280PMPlasmaOk
1901:32:41:493PMPlasmaOk
2001:49:58:837PMPlasmaOk
2102:03:29:783PMPlasmaOk
2202:17:27:280PMPlasmaOk
2302:32:15:683PMPlasmaOk
2402:54:41:930PMPlasmaOk
2503:14:49:943PMPlasmaOk
2603:31:38:127PMPlasmaOk
2703:50:00:343PMPlasmaOk
2804:03:01:183PMPlasmaOk
2904:17:09:690PMPlasmaOk
3004:29:40:537PMPlasmaOk
3104:45:27:780PMPlasmaOk
3204:58:20:130PMPlasmaBadAlt ramped down at pulse
3305:11:48:623PMPlasmaOk