Alcator C-Mod Run 1050217 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:406
Date Filed: 1/19/2005
Title:Test of new scanning Mach-probe geometry
First Author:Brian Labombard
Session Leader:Brian Labombard (shots 1-27)

Operators
Session leader(s):Brian Labombard
Physics operator(s):Earl Marmar
Engineering operator(s):Sam Pierson,Gary Dekow,Bill Parkin

Engineering Operator Run Comment
SL XXX PO Marmar EO Pierson MP#406

Session Leader Plans
Entered: Feb 17 2005 10:29:24:970AM
Author: Brian Labombard
MP#406 - Test of new scanning Mach-probe geometry

Purpose:
The purpose of these experiments is to test a new Mach-probe geometry
with the A-port scanning probe. The results of these tests will help with the
design of a new wall-scanning probe (WASP) that we are planning to install on the
inner wall.

Background:
The new probe design is based on a 'Gundestrup'-like probe head, except that
all ion-collecting surfaces are oblique to the magnetic field lines. (Because of
this unique geometry, we call it a 'Bohm-Chodura' probe head, according the sheath
boundary conditions that the surfaces impose.) In principle, the probe can
provide information on both parallel and cross-field (ExB) flows - something we
want to try out.

Approach:
The approach is to operate the probe in a standard set of well-documented
discharges. The best choice for this is an ohmic density scan with plasma current
of 0.8 MA and toroidal field of 5.4 tesla. Discharges with LSN and USN topologies
will be run. These discharges should give us a known variation in parallel plasma flow
response. New information on ExB flow profiles in these discharges would be
of high interest.

Shot Plan:
All shots are 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla discharges. We will scan ASP, FSP, and ISP
probes three times during each shot. If compatible, we will program a wiggle in
the inner wall gap, after the third probe scan is complete - otherwise we may want
to set aside a shot or two for this. The programmed gap-wiggle will help with testing
Boron V Doppler spectroscopy as a means of making parallel flow measurements near the
inner wall. Some D2 puffing on the inner midplane will be done (NINJA) to produce
B+4 ions locally via CX recombination.

Shot#1-3
Reload shot#1050216007 (segment 2 active) - LSN, NL04 = 0.5e20 m^-2
Preprogram NL04 to 0.6
Adjust inner/outer gaps to 1.2 cm.
Tweak equilibrium and FSP/ASP/ISP targets.
Add inner gap wiggle starting at 1.1s:
1.10 to 1.18s - ramp inner gap 4 mm larger
1.18 to 1.50s - ramp inner gap 16 mm smaller

Shot#4-6
Change to segment 3 active - USN, NL04 = 0.45e20 m^-2
Reprogram NL04 = 0.6
Adjust inner/outer gaps to 1.2 cm.
Tweak equilibrium and FSP/ASP/ISP targets.
Add same inner gap wiggle as above

Begin density scan with four shots at each density, 2 in USN and 2 in LSN

Shot#7,8 - NL04 = 0.8, USN

Switch to LSN

9,10 - NL04 = 0.8, LSN
11,12 - NL04 = 1.0, LSN

Switch to USN

13,14 - NL04 = 1.0, USN
15,16 - NL04 = 1.2, USN

Switch to LSN

17,18 - NL04 = 1.2, LSN

Physics Operators Plans
Entered: Feb 16 2005 06:31:53:997PM
Author: Earl Marmar

Overnight ECDC in D2, bake at 60C
Engineering setup:
Power systems as on 1050216007

Gas setup:
-----------
>>> fill B-Top with 6 psi D2 Hybrid Enabled (PG4)
>>> fill B-side lower with 1 psi Ar Hybrid DISabled (PG1)
>>> fill B-side upper with 30 psi D2 Hybrid DISabled (PG2)
>>> fill (former) C-side with 30 psi D2 Hybrid Enabled (PG3)

Torvac Setup:
--------------
GV1 closed, Bypass to RGA open
Torus gate valves closed in Pulse for 5min after shot

Gate valves/shutters:

ECE open
Z-bolo/shutter open

Plan:
MP#406 - Test of new scanning Mach-probe geometry

We will start with LSN, then change back and forth from LSN to USN, scanning density as we go.
Inner wall puffs (D2) with NINJA will be used for piggy-back passive CXR measurements on B4+

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Feb 17 2005 10:28:19:780PM
Author: Brian Labombard
MP#406 - Test of new scanning Mach-probe geometry
______________________________________________________________________________
Purpose:
The purpose of these experiments is to test a new Mach-probe geometry
with the A-port scanning probe. The results of these tests will help with the
design of a new wall-scanning probe (WASP) that we are planning to install on the
inner wall.

Background:
The new probe design is based on a 'Gundestrup'-like probe head, except that
all ion-collecting surfaces are oblique to the magnetic field lines. (Because of
this unique geometry, we call it a 'Bohm-Chodura' probe head, according the sheath
boundary conditions that the surfaces impose.) In principle, the probe can
provide information on both parallel and cross-field (ExB) flows - something we
want to try out.

Approach:
The approach is to operate the probe in a standard set of well-documented
discharges. The best choice for this is an ohmic density scan with plasma current
of 0.8 MA and toroidal field of 5.4 tesla. Discharges with LSN and USN topologies
will be run. These discharges should give us a known variation in parallel plasma flow
response. New information on ExB flow profiles in these discharges would be
of high interest.

Plan:
All shots are 0.8 MA, 5.4 tesla discharges. We will scan ASP, FSP, and ISP
probes three times during each shot. If compatible, we will program a wiggle in
the inner wall gap, after the third probe scan is complete - otherwise we may want
to set aside a shot or two for this. The programmed gap-wiggle will help with testing
Boron V Doppler spectroscopy as a means of making parallel flow measurements near the
inner wall. Some D2 puffing on the inner midplane will be done (NINJA) to produce
B+4 ions locally via CX recombination.

Shot#1-3
Reload shot#1050216007 (segment 2 active) - LSN, NL04 = 0.5e20 m^-2
Preprogram NL04 to 0.6
Adjust inner/outer gaps to 1.2 cm.
Tweak equilibrium and FSP/ASP/ISP targets.
Add inner gap wiggle starting at 1.1s:
1.10 to 1.18s - ramp inner gap 4 mm larger
1.18 to 1.50s - ramp inner gap 16 mm smaller

Shot#4-6
Change to segment 3 active - USN, NL04 = 0.45e20 m^-2
Reprogram NL04 = 0.6
Adjust inner/outer gaps to 1.2 cm.
Tweak equilibrium and FSP/ASP/ISP targets.
Add same inner gap wiggle as above

Begin density scan with four shots at each density, 2 in SNU and 2 in SNL.

Shot#7,8 - NL04 = 0.8, USN

Switch to SNL

9,10 - NL04 = 0.8, LSN
11,12 - NL04 = 1.0, LSN


Switch to SNU

13,14 - NL04 = 1.0, USN
15,16 - NL04 = 1.2, USN

Switch to SNL

17,18 - NL04 = 1.2, LSN
______________________________________________________________________________
Result:
The run was moderately successful in carrying out the run plan for MP#406. We got
good profile data from the three probes in LSN and USN topologies for nominal NL04
values of 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0. We did not get any data at NL04 of 1.2. Kenny was able to
take some Boron spectra from the inner wall fibers (with inner-wall NINJA gas puff) using
the Chromex spectrometer. Because a Camac crate that triggers the Kaiser spectrometer
had to be taken off-line (to get the GKA5* highway back up), Kenny had to switch
all fibers over to the Chromex early in the run. An inner gap wiggle was programmed
starting after 1.1 seconds for all shots to test the inner-wall fiber signals.
NINJA D2 gas-puffing was performed to enhance BV lines and later for GPI. The time
of injection was after 1s. The amount was up to 10 torr-liters per shot by the end of the day.
The new Mach-probe head on the ASP drive and associated new power supplies to
drive it worked very well. The I-V characteristics on all four probes where clean.
Current-limiting electronics for arc-suppression worked very well. We saw clear differences
in the relative ion saturation current levels among the four probes. These differences
changed with density and with LSN/USN topology. The next step is to assemble some
analysis software to compute the parallel and perpendicular Mach numbers based
on published theoretical models.
We also kept an eye on the upper divertor pressures in USN discharges. We saw again
today that the ratio of Penning to MKS gauge pressures track with major radius location
of the upper strike point. The NINJA gas puff (10 torr-liters) changed the pressure
in the upper chamber late in the shot. Still, the Penning/MKS pressure ratio
tracked with strike-point location, reinforcing the idea of this causal relationship.

This run completes MP#406.
______________________________________________________________________________
Shot log:

1 - LSN, NL04= 0.6, ASP(0), FSP(-10), no ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05
2 - fizzle
3 - LSN, NL04= 0.68, ASP(+3), FSP(-5), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05
4 - fizzle
5 - LSN, NL04= 0.67, ASP(+3), FSP(-5), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05
6 - LSN, NL04= 0.62, ASP(+5), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - good probe targeting
7 - USN, NL04= 0.62, ASP(+1), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - ISP too deep!
8 - fizzle
9 - USN, NL04= 0.56, ASP(+1), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - good targeting (except ASP)
10 - USN, NL04= 0.58, ASP(+3), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - best targeting
11 - USN, NL04= 0.75, ASP(+3), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - ASP could be deeper
12 - USN, NL04= 0.8, ASP(+5), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - best targeting
13 - LSN, NL04= 0.88, ASP(+5), FSP(-2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - Fsp could be deeper
14 - LSN, NL04= 0.88, ASP(+5), FSP(0), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - good targeting
15 - LSN, NL04= 1.0, ASP(+5), FSP(3), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - good targeting, FSP could be deeper
16 - fizzle
17 - LSN, NL04= 1.0, ASP(+5), FSP(3), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - good targeting
18 - fizzle
19 - USN, NL04= 1.0, ASP(+5), FSP(0), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - ASP & FSP could be deeper
=> some UFO's seen early in shot on camera
20 - USN, NL04= 1.0, ASP(+7), FSP(+2), ISP, at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 - ASP & FSP could be deeper
=> some UFO's
21 - disrupted at 0.4 s
=> some UFO's
22 - disrupted at 0.3 s
=> some UFO's
23 - disrupted at 0.83 s - no probes scanning
24 - fizzle
25 - LSN, full length, NL04= 0.8 - no probes scanning
26 - fizzle
27 - dud

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Feb 24 2005 11:30:09:413AM
Author: Earl Marmar
A decent run. There were more fizzles than we like, and 2 unexplained duds. Shot 27 was a dud because there
was no EF3 (breaker tripped in INIT and was reset, but it never came on).

We were able to switch back and forth between LSN and USN, without obvious problems. Shot 21 (USN) ended very
early; it appeared because of a big injection. The next plasma was very short, and dominated by runaways. We
went back to SNL, and lowered the target density. The next plasma (23) disrupted at .83 seconds. After a fizzle,
we got a good looking shot back. However we ran out of time to get another USN data point for the MP, because of
a fizzle and the no-EF3 dud.

Programming in the clearin tweak between 1.1 and 1.5 seconds left the plasmas inner-wall limited for the entire
rampdown, which may have contributed to many disruptions ~half-way down the ramp. Increasing clearin again after
1.5 seconds seemed to help (shot 25).

There were various camac and data problems through the day, but nothing that caused serious delay.

Scorecard:

Plasmas 19 (3 of which disrupted before 1 s)
Fizzles 5
Duds 3 (including 1 from no EF3)

Total cycles 27

Session Leader Comments
Feb 17 2005 12:30:18:097PM1050217001Brian LabombardShot 1 LSN discharge NL04 = 0.6
ASP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - not scanning
ASP - 5 mm out - ok
FSP - 8 mm out - ok

Next: repeat with deeper probes and outer gap flatter in time
Feb 17 2005 01:00:59:690PM1050217003Brian LabombardShot 3 LSN discharge NL04 = 0.67
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - did not scan, camac problem
ASP - Camac problem
FSP - some arcing on first scan

Next: Try again - same thing
Feb 17 2005 02:04:20:737PM1050217005Brian LabombardShot 5 LSN discharge NL04 = 0.65
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - to sep. data look good
ASP - could be deeper
FSP - could be deeper

Next: Repeat with ASP and FSP deeper
Feb 17 2005 02:09:13:017PM1050217006Brian LabombardShot 6 LSN discharge NL04 = 0.62
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - to sep. data look good
ASP - inside sep - good data
FSP - first scan near sep.

Next: Go to USN
Feb 17 2005 02:26:56:220PM1050217007Brian LabombardShot 7 USN discharge NL04 = 0.62
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - too deep! need to increase gap
ASP - near to sep
FSP - first scan near sep.

Next: Repeat with inner gap -> 12 mm
Feb 17 2005 02:52:09:627PM1050217009Brian LabombardShot 9 USN discharge NL04 = 0.57
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - could be deeper
FSP - first scan near sep.

Next: Repeat with ASP deeper
Feb 17 2005 03:04:24:097PM1050217010Brian LabombardShot 10 USN discharge NL04 = 0.58
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - at sep.
FSP - first scan near sep.

Next: Go to NL04 = 0.8
Feb 17 2005 03:28:23:940PM1050217012Brian LabombardShot 12 USN discharge NL04 = 0.75
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - at sep.
FSP - first scan near sep.

Next: Go to LSN with NL04 = 0.8
Feb 17 2005 03:44:15:017PM1050217013Brian LabombardShot 13 USN discharge NL04 = 0.87
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - at sep.
FSP - could be deeper

Next: Repeat with NL04 = 0.8
Feb 17 2005 04:08:13:483PM1050217014Brian LabombardShot 14 USN discharge NL04 = 0.87
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - at sep. - nice data
FSP - first scan to sep.

Next: Go to NL04 = 1.0
Feb 17 2005 04:23:29:060PM1050217015Brian LabombardShot 15 USN discharge NL04 = 1.0
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - at sep. - nice data
FSP - could be deeper

Next: Repeat with deeper FSP
Feb 17 2005 04:41:35:577PM1050217017Brian LabombardShot 17 USN discharge NL04 = 1.0
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - at sep. - nice data
FSP - to sep on first scan

Next: Go to USN at NL04 = 1.0
Feb 17 2005 05:30:49:530PM1050217019Brian LabombardShot 19 USN discharge NL04 = 1.0
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - could be deeper
FSP - could be deeper

Next: Repeat
Feb 17 2005 05:31:28:950PM1050217020Brian LabombardShot 20 USN discharge NL04 = 1.0
ASP, ISP, FSP scanning at 0.65, 0.85, 1.05 s
ISP - at sep.
ASP - again, could be deeper
FSP - again, could be deeper

Next: Repeat with deeper FSP, ASP
Feb 17 2005 06:17:03:763PM1050217023Brian LabombardShot 23 LSN discharge NL04 = 0.78
disrupted at 0.83 s
No probes scanning.
Feb 17 2005 06:40:40:950PM1050217025Brian LabombardShot 25 LSN discharge NL04 = 0.8
full length
No probes scanning.

Physics Operator Comments
Feb 17 2005 12:35:34:033PM1050217001Earl Marmarload from 1050216007
Adjust segment 2 gaps (trying for inner and outer of 1.2 cm)
Add gap wiggles after 1.1 seconds, as requested by Session Leader
change target density to 6e19
Changes made in segments 2 and 3; for this shot segment 2 is on, segment 3 is off

plasma
outer gap not quite steady
interesting increase in stored energy during the gap wiggle
Feb 17 2005 12:43:59:970PM1050217002Earl Marmarreduce RCUR from .8 to 1.1 seconds to flatten outer gap
fizzle
Feb 17 2005 01:33:07:487PM1050217003Earl Marmaref4 20 A more negative before t=0
argon puff to 80 ms (from 50)
plasma
many camac errors; no H/D
Feb 17 2005 01:33:20:347PM1050217004Earl Marmarno pcs changes
dud
Feb 17 2005 01:52:13:207PM1050217005Earl Marmaradd 3 msec to prepuff
plasma
H/(H+D) ~ 0.2
Feb 17 2005 02:11:19:080PM1050217006Earl Marmarno pcs changes
argon plenum pressure increased to 2 psi (from 1 psi)
plasma
Feb 17 2005 02:22:45:627PM1050217007Earl Marmarswitch to upper null
turn off segment 2
turn on segment 3
plasma
gaps are a bit small
Feb 17 2005 02:35:56:050PM1050217008Earl Marmarincrease clearin by 4 mm
dud
nothing obviously wrong
Feb 17 2005 03:00:48:283PM1050217009Earl Marmaradd 1 msec to prepuff
plasma
Feb 17 2005 03:01:07:363PM1050217010Earl Marmarno pcs changes
plasma
Feb 17 2005 03:16:57:457PM1050217011Earl Marmarnl_04 target to 8e19 (segment 3)
plasma
density droops a bit
disrupt halfway into rampdown
Feb 17 2005 03:25:03:673PM1050217012Earl Marmaradd some maintenance voltage for the pulsed gas between .5 and 1 seconds (segment 3)
plasma
Feb 17 2005 03:34:20:657PM1050217013Earl Marmarback to LSN
segment 2 on
segment 3 off
nl_04 to .8e20 (segment 2)
reduce Argon pulse (segment 2)
plasma
Feb 17 2005 04:04:42:753PM1050217014Earl Marmarreduce segment gas pulse maintenance voltage; still asking for 8e19
plasma
density still a touch high
Feb 17 2005 04:15:25:013PM1050217015Earl Marmarnl_04 target to 1e20 (segment 2)
reduce prefill puff by 1 msec
plasma
Feb 17 2005 04:25:35:670PM1050217016Earl Marmartweak the early nl_04, to smooth out the density rise
fizzle
Feb 17 2005 04:47:50:153PM1050217017Earl Marmarreduce prepuff by 2 ms; BR0 offset more negative by 0.5 mTesla
plasma
density closer to the target value

pressure at breakdown is up quite a bit (.05 mT, vs .035 earlier in the run)
Feb 17 2005 05:00:22:043PM1050217018Earl Marmarback to USN (segment 2 off, segment 3 on)
nl_04 prog to 1e20

reduce prefill puff 2 ms
fizzle
pressure at breakdown .03 mTorr
Feb 17 2005 05:08:58:763PM1050217019Earl MarmarBR0 offset less negative by 0.5 mTesla
plasma
Feb 17 2005 05:25:49:013PM1050217020Earl Marmarno pcs changes
plasma
Feb 17 2005 05:40:17:263PM1050217021Earl Marmartweak clearin during rampdown, after 1.5 s, to try to keep it diverted longer
(changed in both segment 2 and segment 3; only segment 3 is active)
plasma
disrupt at .407 s (something fell in?)
Feb 17 2005 06:03:38:420PM1050217022Earl Marmarno pcs changes
plasma
nasty, short shot, lots of hards
something sticking in?
Feb 17 2005 06:15:53:730PM1050217023Earl Marmarback to SNL, segment 2 on, segment 3 off
increase prefill puff by 2 msec
nl_04 target to 8e19
plasma
disrupt at .83; similar to 21, but lasted longer
Feb 17 2005 06:23:10:153PM1050217024Earl Marmarno pcs changes
fizzle
Feb 17 2005 06:40:14:933PM1050217025Earl MarmarBR_0 offset more negative by 0.5 mTesla
plasma
looks much nicer; ramped all the way down
Feb 17 2005 06:51:36:187PM1050217026Earl Marmarback to USN
segment 2 off, segment 3 on
EF4 20 amps more negative in segment 1
fizzle
Feb 17 2005 07:02:14:950PM1050217027Earl Marmardecrease prepuff 1 ms
BR_0 offset .5 mTesla less negative
dud
no EF3

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
112:12:30:910PMPlasmaOk
212:36:48:707PMPlasmaOk
312:49:23:190PMPlasmaOk
401:26:45:660PMPlasmaOk
501:39:43:393PMPlasmaOk
602:01:20:347PMPlasmaOk
702:13:45:080PMPlasmaOk
802:26:27:520PMPlasmaOk
902:38:51:563PMPlasmaOk
1002:51:26:363PMPlasmaOk
1103:04:12:520PMPlasmaOk
1203:17:16:190PMPlasmaOk
1303:29:33:270PMPlasmaOk
1403:56:52:680PMPlasmaOk
1504:10:57:780PMPlasmaOk
1604:23:29:967PMPlasmaOk
1704:36:06:967PMPlasmaOk
1804:48:41:733PMPlasmaOk
1905:01:25:873PMPlasmaOk
2005:17:50:467PMPlasmaOk
2105:30:43:357PMPlasmaOk
2205:55:20:967PMPlasmaOk
2306:08:44:153PMPlasmaOk
2406:21:16:530PMPlasmaOk
2506:33:39:263PMPlasmaOk
2606:47:26:170PMPlasmaOk
2707:00:01:280PMPlasmaBadNo EF3