Alcator C-Mod Run 1060425 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:353
Date Filed: 6/24/2003
Title:Study of striations in Li pellet ablation clouds
First Author:Brock Bose
Session Leader:Brock Bose (shots 27-33)
Miniproposal:423
Date Filed: 5/11/2005
Title:C-Mod/JET Ï?* Scan Along an ITER Relevant Path
First Author:Craig Petty
Session Leader:Martin Greenwald (shots 1-26)

Operators
Session leader(s):Martin Greenwald,Brock Bose
Physics operator(s):Robert Granetz
Engineering operator(s):Bill Cochran,Bill Byford,Bill Parkin

Engineering Operator Run Comment
C-Mod/JET rho* Scan MP 423

Session Leader Plans
Entered: Apr 24 2006 03:23:35:607PM
Author: Martin Greenwald
Plan for 1060425 C-Mod/JET rho* Scan MP 423

The goal is to get the low-field portion of a rho* "dimensionless" scan. This will also serve as the C-Mod part of a multi-machine rho* scan.

Today's plan is to get the "low-field" C-Mod data, The parameters we are aiming for are:

Bt = 2.6 T
Ip = 0.68 MA
n = 1.2e20
Pin at least 2.3 MW

Shape will be as 1010731008 (As an practical approach, Steve W. has recommended starting with 1050726036 and making minor changes in shaping.)

To get the easiest, best match with JET we need to run at high power, but the internal C-Mod rho* scan, is limited by power available for the 5.3 T discharges. Since we do not know what the 2nd harmonic heating efficiency will be, a power scan is appropriate.

Achieving the low density required may be a challenge. Our previous 2nd harmonic H-mode experiments, on 960118016, had a density of 1.4e20. (Note: this was a difficult run)

Plan:

1. Achieve shape at desired current and field, target density 1e20 LINE AVERAGED
2. RF pulse steady through Bt 2.6 T flat-top, precise timing to be determined
3. Raise RF power gradually, avoid trips and drop-outs - target is beta_N of 1.5
4. Adjust target density as appropriate to achieve required final density.

As time permits, run shots with same shape but at 5.3 T, 1.1 MA, with RF power up to 5 MW. (match beta_N from low field discharge). Adjust density to match low-field nu*.



Physics Operators Plans
Entered: Apr 24 2006 05:37:15:740PM
Author: Robert Granetz
Engineering setup for Tuesday 25 Apr 2006

MP#423 C-Mod/ET rho* scan (2.6 T)

Session leaders: M. Greenwald
Physics operator: R. Granetz

Overnight boronization, followed by 4 hours of ECDC in helium.
 
The run will start at 09:00 and end at 17:00.

Power systems as on 1050726036

A-coil configuration: normal [+Dtop -Dbot -Jtop +Jbot] and enabled.

Gas Setup:
   fill B-Top            with  6 psi D2  Hybrid enabled  (PG4)
   fill B-side lower     with  1 psi Ar + 2 psi Ne  Hybrid DISABLED (PG1)
  leave B-side upper     as is           Hybrid DISABLED (PG2)   
   fill B-main (C-side)  with 40 psi D2  Hybrid enabled  (PG3)
  leave NINJA as is                      DISABLED

Enable the following gate valves and shutters, assuming no vacuum problems:
  ECE, VUV, Z-bolo shutters
 
Torvac setup: Gate valves open

Key diagnostics: core confinement; edge fluctuation measurements

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ICRF Setup: All transmitters in run-on by 08:00

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Run plan: Low end of a rho* scan with match to JET shape; 2.6 T, 0.68 MA,
          low density, high beta_N (2.3+ MW of ICRF).

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Apr 25 2006 06:05:50:413PM
Author: Martin Greenwald
While we did get respectable heating via 2nd harmonic at 2.6 T, we were not successful in getting the dimensionless match we were looking for.

During the early part of the run, there was significant outgassing. Even with low target densities, the H-mode density was about a factor too high. beta_N of 1.5 was achieved, but the collisionality was 6-7 times too high. see shot 008. Assuming H=1 for the L-mode portion of this and other similar discharges, I'd estimate that about 50% launched power was absorbed.

As the run progressed, the walls unloaded and we regained some density control. However, the low density shots were plagued with run-aways and high levels of radiation.

Lowering the current to raise q95 helped, but not enough. It is possible that with the cryopump we may be able to puff and pump - keeping the edge cool enough.

We may have more success with the 5.3 T part of this run - as the heating efficiency should be higher. We will be able to run higher density target plasmas, which should hold down run-aways. Still this will be a challenge.
Entered: Apr 27 2006 05:32:14:403PM
Author: Brock Bose
The work on MP#353 demonstrated that the LPI is now working reliably, we managed to inject 12 pellets in 11 attempts
Unfortunately, the images on the PSI-4 camera continued to be over exposed. In addition, the ablating
pellets were barely on the image. This indicates that either the lens on the fiber which interfaces with
the camera is misaligned, or that the lenses on the b-port windows are misaligned.

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Apr 25 2006 04:55:50:337PM
Author: Robert Granetz
Run summary for Tuesday 25 Apr 2006:

MP#423 C-Mod/JET rho* scan (2.6 T)
MP#353 Li pellet striations

Session leader: M. Greenwald (MP 423), Brock Bose (MP 353)
Physics operator: R. Granetz

Most of the day was devoted to MP 423, which involved running a particular
shape at 2.65 T and 0.54 MA.  The joint experiment with JET required us to
be in H-mode, and also to run with very low density (nebar=1.2e20 m-3)
during the H-mode.  Although the tokamak was running very reliably, it was
not possible to keep the density as low as desired and still be in H-mode.
See the session leader's report for the best shots to look at.  As the run
continued, we tried to achieve low H-mode densities by starting with
extremely low target densities.  After about 10 shots, we had unloaded the
walls to the point where we were obtaining target densities of
nl_04=0.12e20 m-2.  But this was below the H-mode density threshold and so
these shots did not obtain H-modes.  Also, putting 2-3 MW of ICRF power
into these very low density plasmas produced large runaway populations, and
also strongly heated the K-limiter.  (It's glowing reflection was observable
on several camera views).  It also caused most shots to disrupt during the
RF.  So this experiment was stopped after shot 26.

The latter part of the day was devoted to MP 353, which involved firing
multiple lithium pellets into standard 0.8 MA, 5.4 T plasmas.  Most of
these shots were good full-length plasmas.  The lithium pellet injector
worked very well, firing 3 pellets in rapid succession into each of the
shots.  Camera images were also obtained, and camera settings were
optimized.

Scorecard: 32 plasmas
            0 duds
            0 fizzles
            0 gas system tests
            0 TF scanner tests
            1 power supply test (TF-only)
            0 no power shot cycle
            0 MDSplus cycle tests
           --------------
    Total: 33 shot cycles

Session Leader Comments
Apr 25 2006 09:24:41:603AM1060425002Martin GreenwaldFirst plasma shot
~1 MW - no H-mode
Apr 25 2006 10:00:38:727AM1060425003Martin GreenwaldH-mode
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.54
nebar = 2.63
Ptot = 1.6 (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.053
betaN = 1.3
nu* = 1.0
rho* = .005
Apr 25 2006 10:00:28:350AM1060425004Martin GreenwaldH-mode
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.54
nebar = 2.4
Ptot = 1.3 (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.040
betaN = 1.05
nu* = 1.0
rho* = .005
Apr 25 2006 10:13:55:507AM1060425005Martin GreenwaldH-mode
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.52
nebar = 1.98
Ptot = 1.25 (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.04
betaN = 1.1
nu* = 1.0
rho* = .005
Apr 25 2006 10:27:35:837AM1060425006Martin GreenwaldH-mode
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.52
nebar = 2.1
Ptot = 1.2 (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.04
betaN = 1.1
Apr 25 2006 10:41:06:600AM1060425007Martin GreenwaldH-mode - disrupts early
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.52
nebar = 2.1
Ptot = 1.7 (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.44
betaN = 1.2
Apr 25 2006 10:56:05:930AM1060425008Martin GreenwaldH-mode - disrupts early
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.52
nebar = 2.2
Ptot = 1.5 (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.054
betaN = 1.46
Apr 25 2006 11:04:03:960AM1060425009Martin GreenwaldH-mode - disrupts v. early
Bt = 2.65
Ip = 0.52
nebar =
Ptot = (assumes 50% abs)
Wmhd = 0.0
betaN =
Apr 25 2006 11:23:50:833AM1060425010Martin GreenwaldNo H-mode - disrupts early
serious radiation problem - starts about 80 mse after RF turns on

Apr 25 2006 11:34:05:650AM1060425011Martin GreenwaldEarly disruption
Lots of radiation
Apr 25 2006 11:45:13:773AM1060425012Martin GreenwaldRF turned off for one shot
v low density, lots of runaways, early disruption
Apr 25 2006 11:56:28:350AM1060425013Martin GreenwaldRF turned off
still early disruption, runaways, radiation
Apr 25 2006 12:08:47:023PM1060425014Martin GreenwaldRF still off, but no disruption
density bumped up a bit
Apr 25 2006 12:20:42:680PM1060425015Martin GreenwaldRF on - D port
lots of runaways - more density early on next shot
Apr 25 2006 12:35:55:023PM1060425016Martin GreenwaldPrf held to 1 MW
No disruption
No H-mode
Apr 25 2006 01:03:44:257PM1060425017Martin GreenwaldV. early disruption
Apr 25 2006 01:37:33:600PM1060425018Martin GreenwaldDisrupts at 1.18 sec
lots of RF power, but no H-mode

unusual cyclic fluctuations at about 1.15 seconds
on magnetics - near 900 kHz
modulated by sawteeth?
Apr 25 2006 01:19:48:617PM1060425019Martin GreenwaldH-mode - lost due to radiation
Apr 25 2006 01:36:16:053PM1060425020Martin Greenwaldsomewhat lower density 0.5e20
just barely an h-mode
Apr 25 2006 01:51:51:400PM1060425021Martin Greenwaldslightly higher density than 20, similar result
Apr 25 2006 02:00:48:553PM1060425022Martin Greenwaldsimilar to 21
disruption and radiation
Apr 25 2006 02:27:56:883PM1060425023Martin Greenwaldslightly higher densities - target nebar at 0.7e20
a few brief h-modes
Apr 25 2006 02:54:43:740PM1060425024Martin Greenwaldhigher density still - 0.95
got series of h-modes for about 0.5 seconds
Apr 25 2006 02:53:34:680PM1060425025Martin Greenwaldlowered current to 0.45 MA
first h-mode lasted a bit longer, but still radiation problems
density going too high

Physics Operator Comments
Apr 24 2006 06:35:30:503PMRobert GranetzLoaded segments 1,3, and 4 from most recent shot.
Loaded segment 2 from segment 2 of 1050726036, and then:
Dropped Ip to 540 kA (from 600 kA)
Dropped Bt to 2.6 T (from 2.7 T)
Dropped nl_04 to 0.6e20 m-2 (nebar=1.0e20 m-3)
Increased RXL by 5 mm
Moved ZXL down by 1 cm
Increased CLEARIN by 5 mm
Moved RCUR out by 2.5 mm (to keep outer gap the same with the
increased CLEARIN)
These changes should match the desired shape, nu*, and rho*, assuming the ICRF
heating works well.
Apr 25 2006 08:51:04:167AMRobert GranetzThe first shot will be a TF-only test under PLC control. This is needed because
some work has been done inside the TF cabinets since last Friday's run.
Apr 25 2006 09:08:34:230AM1060425001Robert GranetzShot 01 -- TF test under PLC control. 50 kA. Good.

Next shot: go for plasma
Apr 25 2006 09:32:49:993AM1060425002Robert GranetzShot 02 -- Plasma. Good shot. Btor=2.65 T (after t=1.0 s), Ip=532 kA, nl_04=0.72e20 m-2,
kappa=1.67, delta_U=0.32-0.34, delta_L=0.48. Prf=1 MW (from E).

Next shot: move ZXL down by 7 mm, RXL in by 3 mm, ZXU up by 5 mm.
Apr 25 2006 10:05:08:647AM1060425003Robert GranetzShot 03 -- Plasma. Good shot. Prf=2 MW (D+E). Got an H-mode, which raises the
density well above the desired H-mode value. Somewhat better startup, but it had a
bounce. Shape is close to the desired one, except that the upper part of the plasma
needs to come down.

Next shot: raise ZXU by 1 cm. Turn off finite density starting at t=0.8 s
Apr 25 2006 10:05:40:850AM1060425004Robert GranetzShot 04 -- Plasma. Good shot. Prf=1 MW (D). EDA H-mode. Target density is
good, but H-mode density is too high. Need a cryopump. Upper edge of plasma
is still needs to come down another 1-2 cm.

Next shot: raise ZXU by 2 cm. Program target density to 3e19 m-2. Decrease
Ip by 30 kA.
Apr 25 2006 10:16:30:803AM1060425005Robert GranetzShot 05 -- Plasma. Good shot. Getting closer on the shape match (according to Steve
Wolfe). Prf=1 MW (D). H-modes.

Next shot: move RXU in by 1-2 cm.
Apr 25 2006 10:33:40:930AM1060425006Robert GranetzShot 06 -- Plasma. Good shot. Prf=mostly 1 MW (D)

Next shot: no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 10:43:20:833AM1060425007Robert GranetzShot 07 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.29 s. I think it was an impurity injection.

Next shot: decrease pre-programmed gas puff in segment 1 after t=0.050 s.
Apr 25 2006 11:00:28:803AM1060425008Robert GranetzShot 08 -- Plasma. Good shot. Disrupted at t=1.41 s. Prf=1.7 MW (1.0 from D, 0.7 from J).
Very low target density, but of course the H-mode density is too high.

Next shot: decrease early gas puffing some more. Also change EF2-by-EF4 from -2000 to -1500
during the relevant portion of the discharge (suggested by S. Wolfe).
Apr 25 2006 11:09:24:180AM1060425009Robert GranetzShot 09 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.12 s. Still looks like an injection. Prf=2.8 Mw for a
short time.

Next shot: decrease nl_04 before t=0.8 s again to avoid brief turn-ons of PG4.
Apr 25 2006 11:27:05:257AM1060425010Robert GranetzShot 10 -- Plasma. Disrupts at t=1.39 s. Prf=2.8 MW, then 2.0-2.8 MW. Lots
of radiated power on the 2pi diode. Doesn't look like we got an H-mode on this
one.

Next shot: no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 11:30:46:163AM1060425011Robert GranetzShot 11 -- Plasma. Disrupts at t=1.19 s. High Prad when the RF is one.

Next shot: try a shot without RF to see if the disruption goes away.
Apr 25 2006 11:47:14:850AM1060425012Robert GranetzShot 12 -- Plasma. Very low density (nl_04=0.12e19 m-2) and lots of runaways...maybe this
density is too low. Disrupted at t=1.13 s. Ohmic shot; no ICRF.

Next shot: raise nl_04 to 0.22e20 m-2. Keep the RF off again.
Apr 25 2006 11:57:45:400AM1060425013Robert GranetzShot 13 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.87 s. Still lots of runaways.

Next shot: increase early gas puffing (but still less than normal). No RF.
Apr 25 2006 12:12:18:337PM1060425014Robert GranetzShot 14 -- Plasma. Full-length ohmic shot. Still have hard x-rays, although not
extrememly high. Very low radiated power.

Next shot: turn on 1 MW (D-port) of ICRF.
Apr 25 2006 12:21:37:227PM1060425015Robert GranetzShot 15 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.15 s. Lots of runaways again.

Next shot: raise early gas programming and nl_04 to 3e19 m-2.
Apr 25 2006 12:41:00:070PM1060425016Robert GranetzShot 16 -- Plasma. Good shot. Full-length. Still huge hard x-ray signal. Shape
could still use a little more tweaking.

Next shot: change EF2-by-EF4 to go 500 amps in the opposite direction compared to
the change I made earlier in the run. Increase Prf to 2.5 MW.
Apr 25 2006 12:53:37:540PM1060425017Robert GranetzShot 17 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=0.59 s. Lots of hard x-rays.

Next shot: Pre-program 20 volts on PG3 gas valve in segment 2.
Apr 25 2006 01:03:42:180PM1060425018Robert GranetzShot 18 -- Plasma. Longer, but still disrupted at t=1.18 s. Hard x-rays and radiated
power start upwards when the RF turns on. Prf=2.8 MW (from all three antennas).

Next shot: increase nl_04 to 4e19 m-2.
Apr 25 2006 01:18:18:193PM1060425019Robert GranetzShot 19 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.29 s. Prf=2+ MW. Got an H-mode.

Next shot: reduce nl_04 a bit to 3.6e19 m-2.
Apr 25 2006 01:39:14:647PM1060425020Robert GranetzShot 20 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.16 s. Looks like these shots get the K-limiter hot
when the RF turns on. We see reflections of the glowing K-limiter on a number of camera
views.

Next shot: tweak nl_04 to 3.8e19 m-2. Move RCUR in by 2 mm to increase outer gap by 4 mm.
Apr 25 2006 01:52:08:633PM1060425021Robert GranetzShot 21 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.17 s. Good density. Outer gap did indeed increase,
but we're still heating K-limiter to glowing.

Next shot: tweak nl_04 up to 0.40e20 m-2.
Apr 25 2006 02:07:20:350PM1060425022Robert GranetzShot 22 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.18 s. Prf=2.9 MW.

Next shot: raise nl_04 to 0.5e20 m-2
Apr 25 2006 02:22:24:680PM1060425023Robert GranetzShot 23 -- Plasma. Disrupted at t=1.35 s. K-limiter glows for severals tenths of a second.
Prf=2.9 MW for 0.35 s.

Next shot: raise nl_04 to 0.6e20 m-2.
Apr 25 2006 02:41:41:773PM1060425024Robert GranetzShot 24 -- Plasma. Good shot. Disrupted at t=1.40 s. Prf=2.9 MW. H-modes, since the
density is a little higher.

Next shot: lower Ip to 450 kA.
Apr 25 2006 02:52:54:303PM1060425025Robert GranetzShot 25 -- Plasma. Ip=0.45 MA. Disrupted at t=1.28 s. Prad is less. Hard x-rays
are less too.

Next shot: lower Ip to 0.40 MA.
Apr 25 2006 03:17:57:210PM1060425026Robert GranetzShot 26 -- Plasma. 0.40 MA. Disrupted at t=1.31 s. H-modes. Prf=2-3 MW.

End of MP 423.

Next shot: load a standard 0.8 MA, 5.4 T, LSN for Brock Bose to try lithium pellet injection.
This is MP 353.
Apr 25 2006 03:26:11:930PM1060425027Robert GranetzShot 27 -- Plasma. Good shot. 0.8 MA, 5.4 T. Got three lithium pellet at around t=0.85 s.
This is for MP 353. Looks like the density feedback went beserk. Prf=1-2 MW.

Next shot: turn off density feedback after t=0.8 s. Also zero the PG3 pre-programming
after t=0.8 s as well.
Apr 25 2006 03:39:28:257PM1060425028Robert GranetzShot 28 -- Plasma. Full length. Got 3-4 Li pellets.

Cell access made after this shot in order to change the settings on the LPI
camera.

Next shot: no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 04:02:48:837PM1060425029Robert GranetzShot 29 -- Plasma. Good full-length shot. 3 Li pellets. Prf=2 MW.

Next shot: repeat, no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 04:23:22:773PM1060425030Robert GranetzShot 30 -- Plasma. Good full-length shot. 3 Li pellets. Prf=2 MW.

Next shot: repeat, no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 04:35:34:430PM1060425031Robert GranetzShot 31 -- Plasma. Good full-length shot. 3 Li pellets. Prf=1-2 MW.

Next shot: repeat, no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 04:48:36:570PM1060425032Robert GranetzShot 32 -- Plasma. Good full-length shot. 2 Li pellets. Prf=2 MW.

Next shot: repeat, no PCS changes.
Apr 25 2006 04:56:37:570PM1060425033Robert GranetzShot 33 -- Plasma. Good full-length shot. 3 Li pellets.

End of run.

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
109:05:19:340AMTestOkTF 50kA PLC Test
209:18:01:637AMPlasmaOk
309:33:04:417AMPlasmaOk
409:46:05:517AMTestBad
510:07:47:507AMTestBad
610:22:30:460AMPlasmaOk
710:35:07:990AMPlasmaOk
810:47:46:493AMPlasmaOk
911:01:24:867AMPlasmaBadOH1 self powered circuit fired
1011:15:25:757AMPlasmaOk
1111:28:02:367AMPlasmaOk
1211:40:29:617AMPlasmaOk
1311:53:00:197AMPlasmaOk
1412:05:38:820PMPlasmaOk
1512:18:09:883PMPlasmaOk
1612:30:39:257PMPlasmaOk
1712:43:07:727PMPlasmaOk
1812:57:44:740PMPlasmaOk
1901:10:24:257PMPlasmaOk
2001:27:48:943PMPlasmaOk
2101:42:44:273PMPlasmaOk
2201:58:32:180PMPlasmaOk
2302:13:23:367PMPlasmaOk
2402:28:23:837PMPlasmaOk
2502:46:41:460PMPlasmaOk
2602:59:37:540PMPlasmaOk
2703:17:42:350PMPlasmaOk
2803:31:17:007PMPlasmaOk
2903:55:46:867PMPlasmaOk
3004:11:56:727PMPlasmaOk
3104:25:48:273PMPlasmaOk
3204:39:57:413PMPlasmaOk
3304:53:10:430PMPlasmaOk