Alcator C-Mod Run 1040408 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:361
Date Filed:11/13/2003
Title:Identity experiments with JET on error field locked mode thresholds
First Author:T.C. Hender
Session Leader:T.C. Hender (shots 1-32)

Operators
Session leader(s):T.C. Hender
Physics operator(s):Earl Marmar
Engineering operator(s): Unknown

Engineering Operator Run Comment
MP#361 JET/C-Mood locked mode identity

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:04:443PM
Author: T.C. Hender
Session Leader Summary for Thursday, April 8, 2004

MP#361: JET/C-Mod Locked mode identity
SL: Hender/Wolfe
PO: Marmar

Moderately good run with the locked mode threshold established at 2 densities
and intrinsic error found at lower density. The main problem was failed
breakdowns particularly from shot 27 onwards.

Shots 14 and 16 established the threshold at about -1950A at nl4=2.1e20 and
with Btop-Dbot-Gtop+Jbot. Likewise shots 19 and 21 showed a limit of about
-1550A. Shot 22 got an intrinsic locked mode at nl4~1.0.

The problems with the attempts at high density are unclear. Shot 4 had a
density prumpout at 0.8s - probably due to a locked mode (but this needs
further checking). Pulse 1 was fairly successful at reaching high'ish
density. The later attempts at high density pulses 26, 31 and 32 were plagued
by MARFES. Some consideration needs to be given on how to get around this
next time.

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 04:36:49:817PM
Author: Earl Marmar
physop run summary for 1040408


__________________________________________________ Engineering setup
for Thursday, 08 Apr 2004

MP#361 JET/C-Mod locked mode identity

Session leader: Hender/Wolfe Physics operator: Marmar

Overnight ECDC in D2 at 2e-4 Torr

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

Power systems the same as 1031219031, but be sure TF PLC limit is at
least 180kA (6.32 Tesla).


A-coils should be configured (+Btop -Dbot -Gtop +Jbot)

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 with 15
psi He3 Hybrid disabled (PG2) fill C-side with 40 psi D2 Hybrid
enabled (PG3)

Fill NINJA to 40 psi D2, and enable

Enable the following gatevalves: ECE, VUV, DNB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RF Setup: no RF required for this run
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Results:

The run started off pretty well, with some locked mode results (see
session leader summary). However, after shot 8, we started having
fizzle problems. Most shots had high current disruptions at 6.3 tesla,
but it's not clear if that was the main problem. It appeared that
startup improved with lowered prefill puff (as typical with
disruptions, particularly when the plasmas are high density, as these
were) and with a fairly negative Br_0.

Getting high density (nl_04~3e20) proved tricky. Shot 26 was the most
successful in this regard, but a number of attempts ended in big
marfes and early disruptions. Loop voltage is high for these ohmic
shots, and some power supplies run close to, or at their
limits. Increasing the OH limits on the positive swing (-ve on PLC)
improved things. We tried NINJA on a few shots to supplement the
normal fueling puff, but it only seemed to make things worse.

The interferometer was having some problems, so we switched to
nl_zmeter feedback for shot 5 and subsequent. This worked without
incident.

Computers and power supplies worked well: shot 24 was lost to the EF3
breaker pulling just before the pulse.

Summary:

plasmas 20 fizzles 11 PS dud 1

Total cycles 32

Session Leader Comments
Apr 8 2004 08:57:50:280AMT.C. HenderMP 361 Error Field Identity Experiments with JET

Aims are to make rho*, nu* matches with JET Ohmic error field thresholds.
JET shots are available equivalent to 1.27MA, 6.3T (q95=3.3) and 1MA, 6.3T (q95=4.1).
The Acoil will be used in Btop-Dbot-Gtop+Jbot mainly as this gives best match to JET or as
Dtop+Dbot-Jtop-Jbot. The main issue for the run will be to get into the density window between where low density
intrinsic locked modes occur and where there is enough current in the Acoil to make locked modes.

A possible additional set of shots is match the equivalent of 8T and 1.6MA pulses from JET.

Apr 8 2004 09:18:19:547AM1040408001T.C. HenderShot 1040408001 Sligthly too much density leading to a loss of vertical control at 1.2s (the fringe
jump in nl4 may not have helped). Next shot less density aiming for nl4=2.3e20
Apr 8 2004 09:30:40:893AM1040408002T.C. HenderShot 1040408002 Disruption at 0.37s. Cause not clear, try less density in next shot
Apr 8 2004 09:46:23:180AM1040408003T.C. HenderShot 1040408003. Better. Disruption at 0.84s. Try less density in next shot, turn off NINJA
Apr 8 2004 10:08:16:997AM1040408004T.C. HenderShot #4. Density pump out at 0.8s, is it a locked mode? (not clear but it seems the most likely cause)
Only option is to try slightly more denisty.
Apr 8 2004 10:23:01:723AM1040408005T.C. HenderShot #5. Good. Z-feedback works. nl4 tops out at ~2e20. Next shot put on A-coil at 0.8s and
ramp to 3.5kA at 1.1s.
Apr 8 2004 10:40:09:000AM1040408006T.C. HenderShot #6. OK but no locked mode from A-coil which ramps to +2.4kA. It appears +ve current in the A-coil may be
subtracting from the intrinsic error so try -ve current in next shot
Apr 8 2004 11:04:36:833AM1040408007T.C. HenderShot #7. Disruption at 0.45s. UFO event? Try again.
Apr 8 2004 11:14:42:380AM1040408008T.C. HenderShot #8. Still disrupts early at 0.53s. Is it the Ar puff? Try again with lower Ar puff.
Apr 8 2004 11:29:36:137AM1040408009T.C. HenderShot #9. Fizzle.
Apr 8 2004 11:43:32:800AM1040408010T.C. HenderShot #9. Fizzle.
Apr 8 2004 11:46:25:023AM1040408010T.C. HenderShot #10. First driven locked mode at 1.08s and Acoil=-2960A, nl4=2.1e20. Repeat with Acoil flat-topped to 2.5kA
to see if that makes a locked mode.
Apr 8 2004 11:49:06:027AM1040408011T.C. HenderShot #11. Fizzle. Try again
Apr 8 2004 12:10:04:900PM1040408012T.C. HenderShot #12. Good but locked mode at 1.07s again with Acoil=-2570A and nl4=2.1. So try again with Acoil=-1500A.
Apr 8 2004 12:18:07:913PM1040408013T.C. HenderShot #13. Fizzle again
Apr 8 2004 12:49:14:133PM1040408014T.C. HenderShot #14.Good shot. Locked mode at 1.21s with Acoil=-1890A. Interferometer failed
Apr 8 2004 12:52:48:767PM1040408015T.C. HenderAnother failed breakdown. Try again
Apr 8 2004 01:13:16:437PM1040408016T.C. HenderShot #16 Locked mode at 1.12s with -2070A in A-coil. This one clearly pins down the locked mode value.
Apr 8 2004 01:21:57:247PM1040408017T.C. HenderShot #17 and another odd-shot number fizzle.
Apr 8 2004 01:44:21:110PM1040408018T.C. HenderShot #18. Good pulse at lower density nl4~1.6e20 and no locked mode (A-coil off). Next pulse put the A-coil on
Apr 8 2004 01:57:09:300PM1040408019T.C. HenderShot #19. Good pulse locked mode at 1.07s anbd 1675A nl4=1.57e20. Pulse lands OK.
Apr 8 2004 02:01:56:543PM1040408020T.C. HenderShot #20 Fizzle
Apr 8 2004 02:25:34:530PM1040408021T.C. HenderShot #21. Makes loked mode in flat-top phase of A-coil with -1440A and at 1.0s with nl14=1.5e20. So that's OK
and now move on to lower density in next pulse (nl20=1.2e20)
Apr 8 2004 02:35:37:157PM1040408022T.C. HenderShot #22. Makes an intrinsic locked mode (no A-coil) at 0.61s
Apr 8 2004 02:49:57:193PM1040408023T.C. HenderShot #23. Early disruption at 0.24s. Turn off NINJA in next pulse
Apr 8 2004 02:57:54:237PM1040408024T.C. HenderShot #24. No plasma.
Apr 8 2004 03:17:28:237PM1040408025T.C. HenderShot #25. Fizzle.
Apr 8 2004 03:41:16:493PM1040408026T.C. HenderShot #26. No A-coil on and no locked mode. Density reaches (nl4) 3.6e20 and large MARFE. Next shot back
density down by 15% and add A-coil
Apr 8 2004 03:44:44:263PM1040408027T.C. HenderShot #27. Fizzle
Apr 8 2004 04:00:16:663PM1040408028T.C. HenderShot #28. And another fizzle unfortunately.
Apr 8 2004 04:10:59:270PM1040408029T.C. HenderShot #29. And another fizzle unfortunately.
Apr 8 2004 04:23:54:993PM1040408030T.C. HenderShot #30. And another fizzle unfortunately.
Apr 8 2004 04:54:35:950PM1040408031T.C. HenderShot #31. Got beyond the fizzle this time, but disruption at 0.38s. Locked mode at 0.25s,
but not clear if this is the real problem.
Apr 8 2004 05:06:38:623PM1040408032T.C. HenderShot #32. Very similar to previous shot. Got beyond the fizzle this time, but disruption at 0.38s.
Locked mode at 0.26s again

Physics Operator Comments
Apr 8 2004 08:49:50:127AMEarl MarmarEngineering setup for Thursday, 08 Apr 2004

MP#361 JET/C-Mod locked mode identity

Session leader: Hender/Wolfe
Physics operator: Marmar

Overnight ECDC in D2 at 2e-4 Torr

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

Power systems the same as 1031219031, but be sure TF PLC limit is at least 180kA (6.32 Tesla).


A-coils should be configured (+Btop -Dbot -Gtop +Jbot)

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 with 15 psi He3 Hybrid disabled (PG2)
fill C-side with 40 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG3)

Fill NINJA to 40 psi D2, and enable

Enable the following gatevalves: ECE, VUV, DNB

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RF Setup: no RF required for this run
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apr 8 2004 09:17:32:420AM1040408001Earl MarmarLoad from 1031219031
import segment 1 from 1040407002

adjust segment 2 TF current to -174,500 from -170,000 (want 6.32T at R=0.66)
turn on nl_04 feedback; adjust voltage preprog on PG3
NINJA on at 0.2 s, .2 s pulse

A-coils programmed to 0 current

plasma
startup looks ok
density higher than desired
EF1 reached limit
Apr 8 2004 09:28:58:013AM1040408002Earl Marmarreduce nl_04 target to 1.8e20
reduce PG3 preprog voltage to 40
reduce NINJA to 0.16 pulse width, still starting at .2 seconds

plasma; early disruption (.37 s)
strong density rise around .29
early hards

pf breaker pulled after the disruption
Apr 8 2004 09:45:06:773AM1040408003Earl Marmarreduce nl_04 program

plasma
density feedback not behaving (vibrations on interferometer)

density higher than desired
Apr 8 2004 09:58:02:090AM1040408004Earl Marmardisable NINJA
nl_04 prog to 2.2e20

plasma

looks ok until about .8 s, then density dives

disrupt at 1.01 s

halo current warning (Ihalo*B > 1.5 MA-T)
Apr 8 2004 10:18:30:480AM1040408005Earl Marmargo to nl_zmeter density feedback
prog to 2.0 volt
add 10 msec to argon puff

plasma
nl_04 to 2e20

Apr 8 2004 10:32:48:567AM1040408006Earl Marmarenable A-coils: on at 0.8 rising to 4000 at 1.1, then ramp down again after 1.5

increase argon another 10 msec (now 60 ms)

plasma
got the a-coil currents
no sign of a locked mode
Wolfe is thinking about effect of a-coil currents on error fields
Apr 8 2004 11:02:42:720AM1040408007Earl Marmarreverse polarity on a-coils
now: -Btop +Dbot +Gtop -Jbot

add 10 more msec to argon puff

plasma
disrupt at .45; injection around .41


Apr 8 2004 11:09:42:607AM1040408008Earl Marmarno pcs changes

lasted a bit longer, disrupting at .52
Apr 8 2004 11:21:49:093AM1040408009Earl Marmarreduce argon puff by 20 msec; now 50 msec
increase early nl_zmeter target a bit

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 11:45:21:240AM1040408010Earl Marmarreduce BR_0 by 0.5 mT to -.0005 T

plasma

got the locked mode on this one
Apr 8 2004 11:51:49:483AM1040408011Earl Marmarprogram a-coils to 3000 at 1s, flat to 1.15, then up to 4000 at 1.35 s

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 12:09:04:430PM1040408012Earl Marmarreduce prepuff by 1 msec
plasma

locked mode around 1.08 s (as on shot 10)
Apr 8 2004 12:19:22:463PM1040408013Earl Marmarreduce a-coil demand

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 12:41:49:950PM1040408014Earl Marmarreduce prepuff another 1 msec
change plc limits on all 3 oh coils to 30 kA (positive swing, -ve on PLC)

plasma

locked mode around 1.23
Apr 8 2004 12:54:43:737PM1040408015Earl Marmarincrease oh1 -ve PLC limit to 33kA

Move end of flattop earlier, to 1.3 seconds

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 01:32:01:027PM1040408016Earl MarmarModified a-coil time history

plasma
Apr 8 2004 01:31:51:730PM1040408017Earl Marmara-coils off

reduce density: nl_zmeter prog to .45 volt

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 01:40:48:777PM1040408018Earl Marmarno pcs changes

plasma

nl_04 = 1.5e20
Apr 8 2004 01:51:04:683PM1040408019Earl Marmarreduce prefill puff by 1 msec (now 12 msec)

A-coils back on

plasma
Apr 8 2004 02:02:13:620PM1040408020Earl Marmarmodified a-coil programming (increased early, max unchanged)

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 02:27:07:880PM1040408021Earl Marmarreduce BR_0 offset 0.5 mT, to -.001 T

plasma
Apr 8 2004 02:49:20:270PM1040408022Earl Marmaradd 1 msec to prepuff

a-coils off (PLC)

nl_zmeter demand to .26 volt
reduce pg3 preprog to 35 V (from 40)

plasma
Apr 8 2004 02:50:38:523PM1040408023Earl Marmarnl_zmeter demand to 1.6 volt
increase pg3 segment 2 preprog voltage
NINJA on .2s for .16s

plasma

early disruption; too much gas
Apr 8 2004 02:59:08:193PM1040408024Earl Marmardisable NINJA

PS dud: EF3 breaker opened just before the shot
Apr 8 2004 03:20:35:617PM1040408025Earl Marmarno pcs changes

fizzle; B_R took a negative lurch around 10 msec
Apr 8 2004 03:43:40:667PM1040408026Earl Marmaradd .5mT to BR_0 offset; now -.0005 T
plasma

got to nl_04=3.5e20; disrupt at 1.11
plasma current drooping a bit before the disruption
Apr 8 2004 03:51:21:663PM1040408027Earl Marmarreduce nl_zmeter target to 1.25V

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 03:59:12:677PM1040408028Earl Marmarno pcs changes

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 04:13:49:293PM1040408029Earl Marmarreduce prepuff 1 msec

increase BR_0 offset .5mT (now 0.0000T)

fizzle
Apr 8 2004 04:26:26:267PM1040408030Earl MarmarBR_0 offset to -.0007 T
add 1 msec to prepuff
fizzle
Apr 8 2004 04:40:51:930PM1040408031Earl MarmarBR_0 offset to -.001 T

plasma
disrupt at .38
Apr 8 2004 05:05:30:467PM1040408032Earl Marmarno pcs changes

plasma
early disruption, very similar to 31

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
109:01:59:083AMPlasmaOk
209:18:28:123AMPlasmaBadOH1 self powered circuit fired
309:34:10:287AMPlasmaOk
409:47:26:747AMPlasmaOk
510:11:44:517AMPlasmaOk
610:24:59:147AMPlasmaOk
710:52:19:050AMPlasmaOk
811:05:15:380AMPlasmaOk
911:19:50:183AMPlasmaOk
1011:32:31:890AMPlasmaOk
1111:46:56:460AMPlasmaOk
1212:01:42:047PMPlasmaOk
1312:16:06:600PMPlasmaOk
1412:32:20:360PMPlasmaOk
1512:50:22:260PMPlasmaOk
1601:04:48:707PMPlasmaOk
1701:19:10:413PMPlasmaOk
1801:33:48:030PMPlasmaOk
1901:46:33:927PMPlasmaOk
2001:59:27:883PMPlasmaOk
2102:11:53:810PMPlasmaOk
2202:25:58:890PMPlasmaOk
2302:42:50:200PMPlasmaOk
2402:55:23:673PMPlasmaOk
2503:14:36:297PMPlasmaOk
2603:27:12:533PMPlasmaOk
2703:42:49:307PMPlasmaOkchopper current looked ugly
2803:55:42:220PMPlasmaOk
2904:08:53:020PMPlasmaOk
3004:21:58:133PMPlasmaOk
3104:36:01:873PMPlasmaOkPF breaker open due to a disruption
3205:02:05:650PMPlasmaOkPF breaker opened after disruption