Alcator C-Mod Run 1050701 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:422
Date Filed: 4/26/2005
Title: ITB formation-Ti critical gradient dependence
First Author:Kirill Zhurovich
Session Leader:Kirill Zhurovich (shots 1-34)

Operators
Session leader(s):Kirill Zhurovich
Physics operator(s):Ron Parker
Engineering operator(s):Andy Pfeiffer,Bill Byford,Gary Dekow

Engineering Operator Run Comment
automatically entered by signon - please replace with real comment

Session Leader Plans
Entered: Jun 30 2005 12:23:45:403PM
Author: Kirill Zhurovich
MP#422 -- "ITB formation -- Ti critical gradient dependence"

The purpose of this experiment is to understand triggering mechanism for producing off-axis ICRF internal transport barriers. The question of whether ITB formation can be explained in the framework of suppressing ITG turbulence via increasing ion temperature scale length to the critical scale length is the target.
This idea will be tested by varying Bt and thus shifting the RF resonance location on shot-to-shot basis.

Required diagnostics: all standard core diagnostics, especially TS, ECE, HIREX, PCI +CHERS (if available)

Set up GPC for 5.4T and GPC2 for 6.2T operation.
ICRF - 80MHz, 3MW (or less, but fault-free and constant for all discharges). ICRF power will be adjusted during first plasma shots.

Bt, Ip scan:

Bt Ip
5.4 0.9
5.5 0.917
5.6 0.933
5.7 0.95
5.8 0.967
5.9 0.983
6.0 1.0
6.1 1.017
6.2 1.033
6.3 1.05

First, establish good equilibrium with long and steady H-mode.
1031218017 is a good candidate.
Then start Bt scan with 0.2T increment, filling the gaps later in the day as time allows.

Physics Operators Plans
Entered: Jun 30 2005 03:18:57:580PM
Author: Ron Parker
Run Plan for Friday, July 1, 2005

MP#422 ITB Formation

SL: Kirill Zhurovic

PO: Ron Parker

Run BEGINS @ 09:00 and ENDS @ 17:00

Overnight Boronize, then 4 hours of He discharge cleaning and
1 hour of D2 discharge cleaning

Power systems as on 1050630

A-coil in standard configuration (+Dtop -Dbot -Jtop +Jbot)
C-coil Start=0.3sec, Invert=2.0sec

ICRF in Run-on condition by 8:30 AM

Gas setup:
fill B-top 6psi D2 Hybrid Enabled (PG4)
fill B-side lower 1psi Argon Hybrid Enabled (PG1)
leave B-side Upper alone Hybrid DISABLED (PG2)
fill B-main 40psi D2 Hybrid Enabled (PG3)


Enable: ECE, VUV, Z-bolo shutter


Run Plan:

First, several shots will be run for boronization recovery and
RF tuning. The goal is to achieve a long, steady H-Mode at 0.9 MA
and BT = 5.4 T. The SL suggests shot 1031218017 as a starting shot.
This will require dealing with offsets and will need Steve Wolfe's help.

Then, the field will be scanned in 0.1 T increments from 5.4 T
to 6.3 T while maintaining constant q.

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 5 2005 12:33:47:997PM
Author: Kirill Zhurovich
The idea of this run was to put RF resonance on axis with 80MHz, 5.4T setup and then by increasing Bt to 6.2T move the resonance off-axis. The latter is the condition at which we had ITBs in the past.
This run required "good boronization", which was done before the run. We spent first several shots trying to condition ICRF to make it steady. RF became acceptable by shot 8-10. We were able to produce long H-modes. Interestingly enough none of them was steady, at least as far as nl time trace is concerned. Usually, the density continued to rise during H-mode phase, but sometimes there were ups and downs.
A few shots later we started struggling with the radiation, so we started having back transitions with 2 H-modes first and multiple H-modes by the end fo the day. So, by the time we reached ITB conditions RF got worse and we were overwhelmed by the radiation. Having Boron shaker helped a bit, but still we were unable to get any ITBs even at the plasma parameters we used in the past.
Overall unsuccessful run.
Resume: we should have probably started with the ITB conditions and then gradually moved away from them.

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 1 2005 05:29:46:980PM
Author: Ron Parker
The purpose of the run was to explore threshold conditions for ITB formation.
Unfortunately, no ITB's were formed even though the field and current were
scanned over a range that has in the past produced ITB's with heating tuned to R > Rcur, e.g., 6.2-6.3 T.
Next time this miniproposal is implemented, we should start in an ITB mode at the beginning of the run
after boronization and move the resonance to the axis, rather than starting on axis and moving out.
This run came right after an overnight boronization and the effect of the boronization in reducing radiated power
seemed to have dissipated by the time ITB conditions were established.

The machine ran very well with a robust startup for the entire run. There were 34 shots of which there were no
fizzles nor any duds. There were however 3 disruptions. The remaining 31 shots were all full length, with current
rampdowns to 100 kA or less. There no problems with the data system nor any equipment failures.

Session Leader Comments
Jul 1 2005 09:16:41:467AM1050701001Kirill ZhurovichPlasma till 0.29s
Jul 1 2005 09:42:55:937AM1050701002Kirill ZhurovichH-mode at ~0.7-1.2s, however RF tripped at ~0.9s

Jul 1 2005 09:45:46:843AM1050701003Kirill ZhurovichL-mode
RF < 1MW

Jul 1 2005 10:05:32:157AM1050701004Kirill ZhurovichH-mode for ~1.1-1.4s
RF is still less than 1MW

Jul 1 2005 10:15:49:577AM1050701005Kirill ZhurovichNo H-mode
RF is still less than 1MW

Jul 1 2005 10:40:01:780AM1050701006Kirill ZhurovichH-mode
RF is better

Jul 1 2005 10:50:56:327AM1050701007Kirill ZhurovichH-mode
Similar to previous shot,
unfortunately, RF trips at ~1.2s

Jul 1 2005 11:01:10:220AM1050701008Kirill ZhurovichH-mode
RF is much better now, even >3MW with steady portion at ~0.9-1.3s


Jul 1 2005 11:08:43:843AM1050701009Kirill ZhurovichGreat shot
H-mode
RF is ~ 3.5MW and steady for ~1-1.45s


Jul 1 2005 11:26:11:203AM1050701010Kirill ZhurovichGreat shot
H-mode
RF is ~ 3.2MW and steady for ~0.7-1.5s
Next: move on to 5.6T and 0.933MA


Jul 1 2005 11:31:55:703AM1050701011Kirill ZhurovichPlasma till 0.3s


Jul 1 2005 11:55:42:407AM1050701012Kirill ZhurovichGood shot, but no ECE
repeat


Jul 1 2005 12:10:48:827PM1050701013Kirill ZhurovichGood shot, but no ECE again!
repeat


Jul 1 2005 12:22:51:297PM1050701014Kirill ZhurovichGood shot.
Bt=5.6, Ip=0.938, RF=3.15
Next: 5.8T


Jul 1 2005 12:41:09:327PM1050701015Kirill ZhurovichGood shot.
Bt=5.8, Ip=0.968, RF=3.2
but RF faults at t>1.2s
repeat

Jul 1 2005 12:51:42:890PM1050701016Kirill ZhurovichGood shot.
Bt=5.8, Ip=0.968, RF=3.1
but RF frips at 1.25s causing H-L transition
As a result 2 H-modes: 1st for 0.3s, 2nd for ~0.15s and not steady
Next: 6T


Jul 1 2005 01:07:11:437PM1050701017Kirill ZhurovichGood shot.
but Bt was only 5.93T while the current was 1MA
Cause: current limit for TF coils.
Next: raise that limit and go for 6T

Jul 1 2005 01:18:07:110PM1050701018Kirill ZhurovichBt=5.98, Ip=1, RF=3.15
RF trips againg after t=1.18
We are having shorter and shorter steady RF periods.
Next: stay at this field and condition the antenna

Jul 1 2005 01:26:00:593PM1050701019Kirill Zhurovich4 H-modes - RF conditioning
Next: go back to 3MW
repeat 6T
Jul 1 2005 01:44:53:983PM1050701020Kirill ZhurovichRf trips again at t.1.18s + a couple of faults around .85s
Might be a problem with right gap
Jul 1 2005 01:56:54:920PM1050701021Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes with H-L transition at around 1.15s
Need to move on.
Next: 6.1T, should expect ITB
Jul 1 2005 02:12:05:250PM1050701022Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes with H-L transition at around 1s
No density peaking.
Next: go up to 6.2T, we need to get ITB
Jul 1 2005 02:26:37:233PM1050701023Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes with H-L transition at around 1s. Current was lower than should be.
No density peaking.
Next: 6.2T and 0.8MA to see if we can get an ITB at all.
Jul 1 2005 02:44:03:640PM1050701024Kirill ZhurovichNo TS.
3 H-modes. Some chance that there is peaking during 1st H-mode.
Actually, on march 10, 2004 we had ITB at 6.45T and 1.2MA, so having Ip around 1MA should not be a problem.
Next: go back to the original plan.
6.3T, 1.05MA and raise the target density to 1.1(per Steve Wukitch).
Jul 1 2005 02:52:47:187PM1050701025Kirill Zhurovich3 H-modes (with a few H-L subtrunsitions, not steady)
Target density is below 1.
Next: raise the target density to 1.1; same field and current
Jul 1 2005 03:14:31:047PM1050701026Kirill Zhurovich4 H-modes (with a few H-L subtrunsitions, not steady)
It's getting worse. Let's try to step back and see if we can repeat shot 14
Jul 1 2005 03:34:42:703PM1050701027Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes
RF is better.
We really need to find an ITB.
Next: 6.45T, 1.075MA, target density=1.2
Jul 1 2005 03:52:24:687PM1050701028Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes again.
Radiation is high.
Next: raise the target density by another 10%
Jul 1 2005 04:49:00:640PM1050701029Kirill ZhurovichL-mode; we crossed the neutrals pressure limit for RF.
Next: 1)cut back on target density to 1.2
2)Try boron injector.
Jul 1 2005 04:19:56:360PM1050701030Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes with more than 0.2s in between...
Radiation is lower.
Next: increase lower triangularity
Jul 1 2005 04:23:52:717PM1050701031Kirill ZhurovichDisruprion at ~0.75s (H-mode)
Jul 1 2005 04:49:25:060PM1050701032Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes.
RF trips but recovers after the second H-mode (but no third H-mode!)
Next: try to increase inner gap from 1cm to 2cm to better mimic 1040310010
Jul 1 2005 05:02:11:110PM1050701033Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes.
The second one is pretty long, density rises but no peaking :(
H-alpha looks like EDA, QC is there but broad and at higher (300KHz) frequency
Next: increase outer gap a little bit.
Decrease RF by 200KW
Jul 1 2005 05:20:13:203PM1050701034Kirill Zhurovich2 H-modes.
no peaking. second H-mode is Rf-induced but Ohmic later

Physics Operator Comments
Jul 1 2005 09:21:18:060AM1050701001Ron ParkerWe are using startup from 1050525002 (segment 1) followed by
segment 2 from 1031218017. First shot started well, but disrupted at 0.3 s.
Try again, no changes.
Jul 1 2005 09:41:35:263AM1050701002Ron ParkerShot 2 ran well, as programmed. ip ~ 900 kA, H-mode, n_eL(4) ~ 2e20 m-2.
SL wants to stay here a while with this shot.
Jul 1 2005 09:50:06:733AM1050701003Ron ParkerShot 3 ran well, however RF power too low for H-mode.
Continue running this shot, lower fill pressure by 2 ms.
Jul 1 2005 10:01:02:593AM1050701004Ron ParkerShot 4 ran OK, an injection of something occured around .65 s, but shot recovered.
Short H-mode.
Jul 1 2005 10:21:19:343AM1050701005Ron ParkerShot 5 again ran well, Rf power still at 1 MW level (but steady).
Jul 1 2005 10:32:18:030AM1050701006Ron ParkerShot 6 was an improvement -- Steady H-mode, RF power ~ 2.6 MW.

SL wants 3 MW, so we'll stick with this shot.
Jul 1 2005 10:43:06:890AM1050701007Ron ParkerWe're getting there, RF power is 3 MW on that shot although
there are a few trips. Effect of Ninja puff will be determined
by shutting it off for next shot.
Jul 1 2005 11:05:49:093AM1050701008Ron ParkerGood shot, RF at 3 MW steady from 1 to 1.3 s.

Breakdown moving over 5 ms, reduce gas prefill by 2 ms
for next shot.
Jul 1 2005 11:06:37:360AM1050701009Ron ParkerShot 9 looked good, RF power over 3 MW, only two short trips.
Jul 1 2005 11:28:42:123AM1050701010Ron ParkerShot 10 looked fine, steady RF at 3 MW, no trips.

That's it for this field. Now we'll increase the TF from
5.4 to 5.6 (not 5.5 as in run plan) and 933 kA.
Jul 1 2005 11:38:51:577AM1050701011Ron ParkerShot 11 disrupted at ~ 0.3 s. Reason not clear.
Jul 1 2005 11:57:39:047AM1050701012Ron ParkerShot 12 ran OK, density was not steady during H-mode, although RF
had only one trip. Run shot again.

Bz(0) looks a bit too positive, decrease EF4 by 5 A to -1315.

One of teh GPC's needs attention, short delay.
Jul 1 2005 12:11:39:763PM1050701013Ron ParkerShot 13 was good, steady RF at 3 MW and nearly constant density.

Unfortunately, GPC gate valve did not open so we'll repeat.

Also, breakdown came back to less than 5 ms with decrease of
EF4 current to -1315 A.
Jul 1 2005 12:25:03:703PM1050701014Ron ParkerShot 13 was good. We'll move on to 5.8 T and 0.967 kA for next shot.
Jul 1 2005 12:43:30:360PM1050701015Ron ParkerShot 15 ran well, but RF faulted several times toward teh end of shot.

We'll repeat and reduce outer gap by ~ 2 mm per Steve W.'s suggestion.
Jul 1 2005 12:53:01:873PM1050701016Ron ParkerShot 16 had a problem around 1.27 s. But we'll go on to 6 T and 1.0 MA
for shot 17.
Jul 1 2005 01:06:01:500PM1050701017Ron ParkerShot 17 was a good one, but field didn't quite reach 6 T due to
engineering current limit set at 165 kA. We'll repeat.
Jul 1 2005 01:18:58:843PM1050701018Ron Parkershot 18 was OK except for some RF trips beginning at 1.18 s.
Next: Repeat with slight increase of RF power.
Jul 1 2005 01:36:41:810PM1050701019Ron ParkerShot 19 ran OK, but RF was intermittent.
Try again with RF back to 3 MW.
Jul 1 2005 01:43:12:110PM1050701020Ron ParkerShot 20 ran well, RF still having problems with trips.
We'll increase outer gap by 2 mm for next shot.
Jul 1 2005 01:59:30:187PM1050701021Ron ParkerShot 21 went off OK. We are moving to 6.1 T and 1.017 MA on next shot.
Jul 1 2005 02:22:55:403PM1050701022Ron ParkerShot 22 looked OK, RF still tripping.
Next: 6.2 T. Current still at 1.017 MA
Jul 1 2005 02:23:50:827PM1050701023Ron ParkerShot 23 ran well. One Rf trip and 2 H-modes.
For next shot, we'll reduce current to 0.8 MA (looking for ITB's)
Jul 1 2005 02:46:39:937PM1050701024Ron ParkerShot 24 ran OK. No clear ITB.
Next: 6.3 T, 1.05 MA
Jul 1 2005 02:50:15:500PM1050701025Ron ParkerShot 25 ran OK, several H-modes, although RF tripped only once up to 0.3 s.
Jul 1 2005 03:08:24:060PM1050701026Ron ParkerShot 26 ran well, intermittent H-modes. Radiation seems high
according to 2pi bolometer.
Jul 1 2005 03:11:07:907PM1050701026Ron ParkerMachine conditions seem to be degrading. We'll return to earlier
good shot, 1050701014 to compare
Jul 1 2005 03:28:13:797PM1050701027Ron ParkerShot 27 ran OK, but the 2pi bolometer indicates higher radiated power than
for shot 14 today, 3 MW vs. 2.5 MW; H-mode intermittent although RF is steady.
Jul 1 2005 03:47:46:687PM1050701027Ron ParkerWe'll continue to push up on the field: 6.45 T, 1.075 MA, target density
1.2e20 m-2.
Jul 1 2005 03:42:25:467PM1050701028Ron ParkerShot 28 ran as programmed, reaching 1.07 MA and 6.4 T
Jul 1 2005 04:00:49:547PM1050701029Ron ParkerShot 29 ran, but no H-mode as pressure at one of the antennas was too high.

We're returning the target density to 1.2e20 m-2 and will try boron shaker
reduce radiation.
Jul 1 2005 04:13:35:750PM1050701030Ron ParkerShot looked better, but H-mode dropped out at ~ 1.1 s. Radiated power seemed
to be lower before the RF/H-mode trip.
Jul 1 2005 04:32:11:530PM1050701031Ron ParkerShot 31 disrupted at 0.76 s. Too much boron? Try again, less boron.
Jul 1 2005 04:48:42:547PM1050701032Ron ParkerShot 32 ran OK. Less radiated power, but still drops out of H-mode. Also RF trips.

Next: Increase outer gap by 1 cm (Also Rcur increased by 5 mm to keep outer gap constant.)
Jul 1 2005 04:58:08:907PM1050701033Ron ParkerShot 33 actually looked a little promising. Prolonged H-mode from 1 to 1.5 s
but RF partially trips in second H-mode.

Next: Same, except outer gap opened up ~ 0.4 cm toward end of shot.


Jul 1 2005 05:10:24:610PM1050701034Ron ParkerShot ran OK, first H-mode from 0.65 to 1.1 s when 2pi bolometer
indiccates full radiative loss. H-mode turns back on just before current inversion
even though RF power stays on for the full pulse (at slightly reduced power).

No sign of ITB.

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
109:10:03:373AMPlasmaOk
209:29:26:843AMPlasmaOk
309:42:14:123AMPlasmaOk
409:56:08:890AMPlasmaOk
510:11:49:060AMPlasmaOk
610:24:11:483AMPlasmaOk
710:36:58:263AMPlasmaOk
810:49:19:873AMPlasmaOk
911:01:45:513AMPlasmaOk
1011:14:27:047AMPlasmaOk
1111:28:33:577AMPlasmaOk
1211:42:41:437AMPlasmaOk
1312:00:58:280PMPlasmaOk
1412:13:27:797PMPlasmaOk
1512:25:58:453PMPlasmaOk
1612:41:04:437PMPlasmaOk
1712:53:48:140PMPlasmaOk
1801:07:40:530PMPlasmaOk
1901:20:26:390PMPlasmaOk
2001:33:05:310PMPlasmaOk
2101:45:44:450PMPlasmaOk
2201:59:41:983PMPlasmaOk
2302:13:14:437PMPlasmaOk
2402:25:51:360PMPlasmaOk
2502:43:12:233PMPlasmaOk
2602:58:03:920PMPlasmaOk
2703:15:32:717PMPlasmaOk
2803:35:41:560PMPlasmaOk
2903:51:50:717PMPlasmaOk
3004:06:51:157PMPlasmaOk
3104:20:31:140PMPlasmaOk
3204:33:11:360PMPlasmaOk
3304:47:59:640PMPlasmaOk
3405:02:52:937PMPlasmaOk