Alcator C-Mod Run 1050310 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:355
Date Filed:11/12/2003
Title:ICRF Testing & Conditioning
First Author:Steve Wukitch
Session Leader:Steve Wukitch (shots 14-26)
Miniproposal:398
Date Filed: 1/10/2005
Title:Complete identity experiments with JET on error field locked mode thresholds
First Author:T.C. Hender
Session Leader:T.C. Hender (shots 1-13)

Operators
Session leader(s):T.C. Hender,Steve Wukitch
Physics operator(s):Joseph Snipes
Engineering operator(s):Bill Cochran,Gary Dekow,Bill Byford

Engineering Operator Run Comment
MP#398 Complete identity experiments with JET on error field locked mode

Session Leader Plans
Entered: Mar 9 2005 04:07:07:423AM
Author: T.C. Hender
Run Plan for Thursday, 10-March-2005 AM

MP#398 Complete identity experiments with JET on error field locked mode thresholds

SL: Hender/Wolfe

PO: Snipes

Run begins at 10:30 and ends at 14.30

Note: Acoil configuration (-Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot)

RF Setup: NONE - no RF for this run.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Run Plan for MP#398:

q95=3.2 (I=0.81MA, B=4T, "JET shape")

With ( -Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot) trying to get LM data at lower field (4T):

1. Establish 4T discharge based on 1040413029 (6.3T) with a target of nl04~1x10^20m-2. No A-coil current on this shot, in order to confirm no intrinsic locked mode forms. Check shape agrees with 1040413029

2. Repeat 1. exploring highest density before detachment which is expected to be around nl04~1.5x10^20m-2

3. Repeat 2. With 2kA square wave in A-coil from 0.8s to 1.28s. And then vary A-coil current up and down to refine LM threshold.


Then with(Btop-Dbot-Gtop+Jbot) [just reverse the supply leads] trying to get LM
data at 4T again:

4. Repeat 3 with the reversed A-coil phase

If time allows (unlikely) try to get some 6.3T data but (unfortunately) need ( -Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot) again. i.e. another supply lead swap

5. Repeat 1040413029 exactly.


End at 14.30 or as soon thereafter as possible
Entered: Mar 10 2005 11:48:44:370AM
Author: Steve Wukitch
Plan for 10-Mar-2005 part 2
MP#355:
SL: Wukitch
PO: Snipes

Overnight ECDC in D2, bake at 60C

Engineering setup:
Power systems as on 1050309021

A-coils off unless left in locked mode-suppression configuration

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 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:
ECE (assuming no vac problems) and Z-bolo/shutter open

---------------------------------------------------------
Plan:

We will continue the simple and dull plasma operation for antenna
conditioning. We want to obtain as many discharges as possible to
plasma condition antennas and will be the focus of the run. J antenna
will be at 78 MHz and [0,pi,0,pi] phasing using D(H) minority. Start
with vanilla LSN, 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04=0.8 target discharge
(1050309021 except nl_04->0.8 instead of 1.1-1.5). Upper null
discharges can be run if parties are interested (1050209019 is a good
starting point but with lower target density). The aim is to get 1 MW
from each for 0.5 sec then combine and maximize injected power limited
by coax voltage limits (only have N2 in D and J antenna). Monitor
density and impurity evolution for trends with RF power.

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

Physics Operators Plans
Entered: Mar 9 2005 06:24:54:997PM
Author: Joseph Snipes
Engineering setup for Wednesday, 10 Mar 2005

MP 398: Complete Identity Experiments with JET on Error Field Locked Mode Thresholds

Session leader: T. Hender/S. Wolfe
Physics operator: J. Snipes

Overnight ECDC in D2 stopping two hours before the run

Run begins at 10:30 and ends at 18:00.

Power systems as on 1050304024 except
A-coil configuration (-Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot), current limit set to 3 kA, 600 V,
A-coil start time set to 0.3 s, invert 2.0 s,
OH1 and OH2 current limits set to [-30,+30] kA. If we get to step 5 in the run
plan, we will then need to increase TF current limits to 180 kA.

Gas Setup:
fill B-Top with 6 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG4)
fill B-side lower with 40 psi D2 Hybrid disabled (PG1)
leave B-side upper with He3 Hybrid disabled
fill (former) C-side with 40 psi D2 Hybrid enabled (PG3)
leave J-bot Hybrid disabled (PG2)


Torvac setup: GV1 closed; bypass to RGA open
Torus gate valves closed during pulse and for 5 minutes after each shot

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

Necessary diagnostics:
TCI, VB, magnetics

Due to a large number of disruptions expected in this run, the VUV gate valve and Z-bolo shutter should be closed,
which will also block out HIREX-Jr.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RF Setup: Absolutely NO RF TODAY !

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run plan:

q95=3.2 (Ip = 0.81 MA, BT = 4T, "JET shape")

With ( -Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot) trying to get LM data at lower field (4T):

Note this equilibrium seems to be prone to making the TCI feedback
fail, so we may want to run either nl_Zmeter or just pre-programmed gas
puff
if it isn't better than it was last time.

1. Establish 4T discharge based on 1040413029 (6.3T) with a target of
nl04~1x10^20m-2. No A-coil current on this
shot, in order to confirm no intrinsic locked mode forms. Check shape
agrees with 1040413029

2. Repeat 1. exploring highest density before detachment which is expected
to be around nl04~1.5x10^20m-2

3. Repeat 2. With 2kA square in A-coil from 0.8s to
1.28s. And then vary A-coil current up and down to refine LM threshold.


Then with(Btop-Dbot-Gtop+Jbot) [just reverse the supply leads] trying to
get LM
data at 4T again:

4. Repeat 3 with the reversed A-coil phase

If time allows (unlikely) try to get some 6.3T data but (unfortunately)
need ( -Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot) again. i.e. another supply lead swap

5. Repeat 1040413029 exactly.


Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Mar 10 2005 06:07:15:213PM
Author: Steve Wukitch
Summary:

Antenna operation improved significantly during the course of the day.
D antenna was vacuum conditioned before the run and this appears to
have removed the arc. This is likely a result of something on the
vacuum side since it cleaned up with some conditioning. D antenna
reached ~1.4 MW for 0.4 sec and some verification of DC1 needs to be
done. E antenna ran well up to 1.5 MW and operated well overlapped
with D antenna. J antenna started poorly due to conditioning. We
have some concerns the spray seen in the videos is depositing material
onto J deteriorating the antenna condition. We also have been visited
by a phase lock problem that we will address with some vacuum testing.
We also need to spend time investigating where the RF is leaking (J4
appears worse than J3).
Entered: Mar 11 2005 03:46:45:160AM
Author: T.C. Hender
The aim of this session was to continue the C-Mod/JET/DIII-D error field experiment by establishing the B-field scaling. The required JET/DIII-D identity shape at 4T, and q95=3.2, was established in 3 pulses. Shot 3 indicated a density limit around nl04~1.6e20 at 4T.

The A-coil was used from shot 5 onwards with the wiring Btop -Dbot -Gtop +Jbot.

A positive phase of A-coil current (was accidentally) used first - shots 5,9 and 10 were successful with A-coil currents up to +3.5kA and density down to nl04=1.e20, but no evident locked modes. If this result is confirmed by further analysis then it places a bound on locked mode thresholds.

From shots 11 to 13 negative A-coil current was applied (or equivalently the wiring was -Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot). The only successful pulse was shot 13 which showed the only clear error locked mode of the session at 0.925s.

In this 1/2 day session there were 3 fizzles and 1 dud. Also relatively poor breakdown led to early MHD and disruptions in at least 2 shots.

Overall useful data was obtained but probably some more pulses with -Btop+Dbot+Gtop-Jbot are needed to establish the locked mode threshold at 4T.

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Mar 10 2005 06:14:01:573PM
Author: Joseph Snipes
Summary: The first part of the run on error field identity with JET did not go all that well in that few
locked modes were found. The ICRF injected a few MW and some brief H-modes were driven. There were also some
very short initial LHCD pulses at 0.5 s that were particularly visible during a fizzle in front of the LH grill
on the camera view. Overall, the machine ran pretty well. There were difficulties with the startup and a
number of shots had hard x rays early on. It seems that the RCUR offset should be set to at least 1500 and
perhaps even a bit higher might improve the startup. The last three shots had the offset at 1500 and their
current rises were a bit slow but otherwise good. Out of 26 shots, there were 5 fizzles, two computer system
tests, one dud, and 18 plasmas.

Session Leader Comments
Mar 10 2005 11:02:24:040AM1050310001T.C. HenderFizzle.

Mar 10 2005 11:10:18:353AM1050310002T.C. HenderGot a good plasma at the target density, nl_04=1.1e20. Shot ran through with no locked mode. Outer gap slightly too large by ~1cm.
Mar 10 2005 11:24:44:510AM1050310003T.C. Hendernl_04 ~ 1.6e20. Disrupted at 1.3sec, density limit? Sawteeth not very visible on ECE, maybe in cut-off? Go to an intermediate density for the next shot.
Mar 10 2005 11:36:11:040AM1050310004T.C. HenderDensity slightly higher than 1050310002, nl_04=1.23e19. Small sawteeth visible, no locked mode evident. Proceed to use this shot as the target shot for the A coil.
Mar 10 2005 12:24:35:587PM1050310005T.C. HenderDisrupted at 1.35sec. No clear sign of a locked mode (slight possibility of a locked mode around 0.6sec when sawtooth behaviour changes). Sawteeth are quite small, but still present through the shot. Acoil current=2kA +Btop -Dbot -Gtop +Jbot.
Mar 10 2005 12:03:50:370PM1050310006T.C. HenderFizzle.

Mar 10 2005 12:51:34:743PM1050310007T.C. HenderEarly disruprion at 0.62sec, before A coil starts. Possible locked mode at 0.19sec, and 0.52sec.
Mar 10 2005 12:59:51:963PM1050310008T.C. HenderFizzle
Mar 10 2005 01:25:26:933PM1050310009T.C. HenderDisruption at 0.99sec, but no sign of a locked mode. Try lowering the density slightly.

Mar 10 2005 02:34:12:743PM1050310010T.C. HenderPossible locked mode at 1.48sec, but in plasma current rampdown phase. nl_04=1.e20. Acoil current = 3.5kA. +Btop -Dbot -Gtop +Jbot.
Mar 10 2005 02:18:10:980PM1050310011T.C. HenderFringe jumps in nl_04. Possible natural locked mode at around 0.4sec, the sawteeth peter out at this time. Shot runs through until the rampdown phase. A coil current = 2kA, -Btop +Dbot +Gtop -Jbot.
Mar 10 2005 02:24:15:730PM1050310012T.C. HenderDud.

Mar 10 2005 02:41:22:933PM1050310013T.C. HenderDefinite locked mode at 0.925sec. Density a bit low nl_04=0.81e20. Acoil current= 2kA -Btop +Dbot +Gtop -Jbot.
Mar 10 2005 03:15:32:260PM1050310014Steve Wukitch014 NTP
Mar 10 2005 03:29:05:790PM1050310015Steve Wukitch015 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 0.5 MW [0.6,.9]sec
E: 0.8 MW [1.2,1.5]sec
J: 0.6 MW [.9,1.2]sec
result: plasma
D: ran
E: ran 1 fault
J: ran max faults
next shot: retune
Mar 10 2005 03:43:09:620PM1050310016Steve Wukitch016 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 0.8 MW [0.6,.9]sec
E: 1.0 MW [1.2,1.5]sec
J: 1.0 MW [.9,1.2]sec
result: plasma
D: ran 2 faults
E: ran
J: ran max faults
Mar 10 2005 03:53:18:947PM1050310017Steve Wukitch017 NTP
Mar 10 2005 04:30:19:150PM1050310019Steve Wukitch019 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
E: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
J: 1.0 MW [1,1.5]sec
result: plasma
D: ran 6 faults
E: ran 2 faults
J: ran max faults (ran separate)
Mar 10 2005 05:07:05:197PM1050310022Steve Wukitch022 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
E: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
J: 1.0 MW [1,1.5]sec
result: plasma
D: ran 4 faults
E: ran
J: ran max faults (ran separate)
Mar 10 2005 05:24:10:557PM1050310023Steve Wukitch023 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
E: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
J: 1.0 MW [1,1.5]sec
result: plasma
D: ran 6 faults
E: ran 3 faults
J: ran max faults (improving - conditioning issue)
Mar 10 2005 05:33:58:590PM1050310024Steve Wukitch024 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
E: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
J: 1.0 MW [1,1.5]sec
result: plasma
D: ran 3 faults
E: ran 8 faults
J: ran max faults - failed particularly badly during overlap
Mar 10 2005 05:52:16:527PM1050310025Steve Wukitch025 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
E: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
J: 1.0 MW [1,1.5]sec
result: plasma
D: ran
E: ran max faults
J: ran max faults - #3 xbarred after shot - tube arc
change phase feedback to wideband and add length of cable to adjust starting phase
Mar 10 2005 05:59:08:290PM1050310026Steve Wukitch026 5.4 T, Ip=0.8 MA, nl_04->0.8
D: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
E: 1.25 MW [0.6,1]sec
J: 1.0 MW [1,1.5]sec
result: plasma
D: ran 4 faults
E: ran 4 faults
J: ran max faults - need to phase lock

Physics Operator Comments
Mar 10 2005 10:46:41:290AM1050310001Joseph SnipesShot 1: Copied segment 2 from 1040413029 and changed the TF current to 110100 A for 4 T flattop after breakdown
and Ip to 0.81 MA flattop and nl04 to 1 x 10^20 m^-2. Changed the Ip predictor to ROG_FG and -70000
offset. Changed density feedback to nl04. Turned off the previous segment 3 and turned on segment 2.
Copied segment 1 from 1050303025 and increased prepuff by 1 ms to 20 ms duration. Zeroed out A-coil
waveform. Removed pre-programmed gas from pulse gas 3 in segment 2. Zeroed out pulse gas 2.
Fizzle!
Mar 10 2005 11:02:28:807AM1050310002Joseph SnipesShot 2: Strange startup for shot 1. Copied 1050301004 segment 1 to attempt to improve the startup. Got plasma.
Lots of hard x rays.
Mar 10 2005 11:16:56:527AM1050310002Joseph SnipesShot 3: Increased EF4 current from -1355 to -1340 A. Increased prepuff by 2 ms to 22 ms duration. Changed
RCUR by -1.5 mm early and -2.5 mm at 1.5 s to attempt to increase the outer gap and keep it flat
at 1.2 cm. Increased nl04 to 1.4 x 10^20 m^-2. Good shot. Disrupted
at 1.3 s.
Mar 10 2005 11:29:29:010AM1050310004Joseph SnipesShot 4: Raised Br0 from -2.5 mT to -2.0 mT. Increased prepuff by another 2 ms to 24 ms duration.
Reduced nl04 to 1.2 x 10^20 m^-2. Good shot. Disrupted at 1.45 s.
Mar 10 2005 11:46:25:430AM1050310004Joseph SnipesShot 5: Turned on A-coils from 0.8 to 1.5 s at 2500 A. Good shot. Disrupted at 1.35 s.
Mar 10 2005 12:25:22:947PM1050310006Joseph SnipesShot 6: OH1 fault on shot 5. Reduced OH1 and OH2 current limits back to [-27, +27] kA. Increased A-coil
current to 4 kA. Fizzle!
Mar 10 2005 12:36:13:120PM1050310007Joseph SnipesShot 7: Reduced prepuff by 4 ms to 20 ms duration. Disrupted at 0.625 s.
Mar 10 2005 12:58:24:743PM1050310008Joseph SnipesShot 8: Repeat. Fizzle!
Mar 10 2005 01:45:33:713PM1050310008Joseph SnipesShot 9: Dropped EF4 from -1340 to -1360 A. Reduced prepuff by 2 ms to 18 ms duration.
Got plasma, but the startup still bounces.
Mar 10 2005 01:27:27:480PM1050310009Joseph SnipesShot 9: Set EF4 to -1350 A. Increased prepuff by 1 ms to 19 ms duration. Reduced Br0 by 0.5 mT to -1.5 mT.
Lowered nl04 to 1 x 10^20 m^-2. Good shot.
Mar 10 2005 01:56:19:620PM1050310010Joseph SnipesShot 10: Repeat. Good shot. Disrupted at 1.48 s.
Mar 10 2005 02:08:35:900PM1050310011Joseph SnipesShot 11: Dropped A-coil current to 2500 A. Good shot.
Mar 10 2005 02:22:06:650PM1050310012Joseph SnipesShot 12: Raised Br0 by 0.5 mT to -1 mT. Raised EF4 by 15 A to -1335 A. Dud.
Mar 10 2005 02:35:23:760PM1050310013Joseph SnipesShot 13: Apparently, that did not work. Reloaded segment 1 from shot 1050310011. Runaways in the startup.
Plasma disrputed at 1.36 s.
Mar 10 2005 03:01:29:447PM1050310014Joseph SnipesShot 14: RF conditioning run. Copied segment 2 from shot 1050309021 at 5.4 T. Set nl04 to 0.8 x 10^20 m^-2.
Set RCUR offset to 1500. Increased prepuff to 20 ms duration. Put 2 psi Ar into B side lower
and enabled it for John Rice. Opened the Z-bolo shutter.
Mar 10 2005 03:09:18:027PM1050310014Joseph SnipesShot 14: Fizzle!
Mar 10 2005 03:15:01:557PM1050310014Joseph SnipesShot 15: Dropped prepuff by 2 ms to 18 ms duration. Increased EF4 by 5 A to -1345 A.
Mar 10 2005 03:21:35:040PM1050310015Joseph SnipesShot 15: Dropped prepuff by 2 ms to 18 ms duration. Increased EF4 by 5 A to -1345 A. Good shot but with
runaways in the startup.
Mar 10 2005 03:41:33:713PM1050310016Joseph SnipesShot 16: Reduced RCUR offset in segment 1 to 750. Increased prepuff by 2 ms to 20 ms duration. Set RCUR
straight across in segment 2 to 0.658 m to attempt to maintain a constant outer gap. Good shot.
The startup looks the best all day.
Mar 10 2005 03:53:10:010PM1050310017Joseph SnipesShot 17: NINJA puffing D2 at 1.2 s. Fizzle.
Mar 10 2005 04:05:42:400PM1050310018Joseph SnipesShot 18: Reduced Br0 by 0.5 mT to -2 mT. Got plasma but again with lots of runaways.
Mar 10 2005 04:21:27:573PM1050310019Joseph SnipesShot 19: Returned RCUR offset to 1000 in segment 1 and increased prepuff by 2 ms to 23 ms duration. Good
shot. Startup looks OK, but with a hesitation.
Mar 10 2005 04:37:26:183PM1050310020Joseph SnipesShot 20: Computer system failure. No power, no data.
Mar 10 2005 04:55:01:447PM1050310021Joseph SnipesShot 21: Cycle test.
Mar 10 2005 05:05:02:557PM1050310022Joseph SnipesShot 22: Finally got plasma again but with a lot of hard x rays.
Mar 10 2005 05:21:33:540PM1050310023Joseph SnipesShot 23: Changed RCUR offset to 500. Good shot. Startup looks worse with a hesitation in the current rise.
Mar 10 2005 05:33:20:590PM1050310024Joseph SnipesShot 24: Changed RCUR offset to 1500. Good shot. Startup looks better with no bounce though Bz still rises
rather slowly.
Mar 10 2005 05:46:04:620PM1050310025Joseph SnipesShot 25: Repeat. Good shot. Startup did not bounce. Still has a slow current rise though.
Mar 10 2005 05:57:42:963PM1050310026Joseph SnipesShot 26: Repeat. Good shot. Startup looks similar to the previous two shots.
Mar 10 2005 06:08:42:620PM1050310026Joseph SnipesSummary: The first part of the run on error field identity with JET did not go all that well in that few
locked modes were found. The ICRF injected a few MW and some brief H-modes were driven. There were also some
very short initial LHCD pulses at 0.5 s that were particularly visible during a fizzle in front of the LH grill
on the camera view. Overall, the machine ran pretty well. There were difficulties with the startup and a
number of shots had hard x rays early on. It seems that the RCUR offset should be set to at least 1500 and
perhaps even a bit higher might improve the startup. The last three shots had the offset at 1500 and their
current rises were a bit slow but otherwise good. Out of 26 shots, there were 5 fizzles, two computer system
tests, one dud, and 18 plasmas.

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
110:45:02:620AMPlasmaOk
211:00:38:260AMPlasmaOk
311:14:05:417AMPlasmaOk
411:27:10:947AMPlasmaOk
511:41:02:277AMPlasmaBadOH1_1 SCR Not Conducting Flt
611:59:05:883AMPlasmaOk
712:34:12:207PMPlasmaOk
812:56:50:510PMPlasmaOk
901:09:35:573PMPlasmaOk
1001:25:37:073PMPlasmaOk
1102:06:10:650PMPlasmaOk
1202:20:31:027PMPlasmaOk
1302:33:01:730PMPlasmaOk
1403:07:07:150PMPlasmaOk
1503:19:53:027PMPlasmaOk
1603:36:55:167PMPlasmaOk
1703:51:28:057PMPlasmaOk
1804:03:57:323PMPlasmaOk
1904:18:41:277PMPlasmaOk
2004:32:18:933PMTestBad
2104:50:36:993PMPlasmaBadComputer problems
2205:03:16:947PMPlasmaOk
2305:17:03:887PMPlasmaOk
2405:29:56:277PMPlasmaOk
2505:42:28:057PMPlasmaOk
2605:54:49:777PMPlasmaOk