Alcator C-Mod Run 930923 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:
Date Filed:
Title:
First Author:
Session Leader:Bruce Lipschultz (shots 1-23)

Operators
Session leader(s):Bruce Lipschultz
Physics operator(s):Steve Wolfe
Engineering operator(s):Steve Fairfax

Engineering Operator Run Comment
1st: Get reliable plasma. 2nd: x-point and SOL characterization

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:08:977PM
Author: To Be Determined
Run of 930923
Physics Operator - Steve Wolfe
Session Leader - B. Lipschultz

This run was based on Mini Proposal 016 - Scrapeoff Layer Characterization I.

The aim of the run was to achieve well diverted plasmas which could be used
for MP016. The usual probe diagnostics were available. In addition
we have just added a fiber optic viewing the outer divertor. This fiber
is coupled into the U. Md OMA for measurement of the impurity source
rates there.

We started the run by loading shot 930921009. Most of the run was spent
just trying to get reproducible shots. We started getting consecutive
shots starting at # 15 - #21. These were quite good diverted shots
with good clearance to the inner wall (> 2 cm). The plasma current was
460 kA and the density was ~ 5e19 nel. The Zeff was typically around 1.5
and sometimes at 1 (or below). Shot # 22 was the first
change in plasma parameters with an increase in current to 560 kA. It also
was quite different in that a large gas influx happened during the
first 200 ms and the density rose to 8e19 nel. After that shot we just had
fizzles or disruptions.

Another shot of interest that occured early in the run was shot 8. At 700
ms the MARFE appears to move quickly (2 ms) from the inner wall to the
divertor. The radiation in the divertor goes from almost nothing to
saturation and the probe-measured density increases as well.

The probe diagnostics were able to obtain data for the shots 15-21. The scanning
probe missed being enabled on shots 16 and 18. The measurements of line
emission in the divertor were made over the same shot range (15-21). We
found that the molybdenum/Oxygen emission ratio in the divertor (ratio of the
source rates) was much lower in the divertor than in the limiter case.


Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 04:36:50:363PM
Author: To Be Determined
Physics Operator Summary of 930923

Session Leader: BLIP
Physics Operator: Wolfe
Eng. Operator: Fairfax

The purpose of this run was to study SOL parameters in diverted plasmas.
Given the difficulties of the last few days, it was anticipated that getting a
reliable discharge would be a challenge. This proved to be correct.

We started with shot 930921009, with several modifications:
1) Need to recalculate M's on wires 2 & 3 because of new gain
of 4 in AFOL to Chopper.
2) Put BR_0 on wire 7 as yesterday. Use CUSTOM to modify VACUUM
predictor to add 8e-3 on MINUS_1_VOLT. Draw zero for \S_BR_0
Load PID P=1.0 from -0.8sec to +0.03sec
FACTOR = 40.
M = OH2U -1500, OH2L + 1500
Turn off PID on Wire 8
3) Check of PIDs found that gain on wires 13,14 (IC_EF2U&L) was turning
off at 0.5 sec. Changed end to 1.5sec

Some fiddling with fields and gas got us to a reasonable discharge on shot 8.
However, shot 9 was a dud and more tweaking ensued. Among the things changed,
I think the more significant were:

Got rid of an imbalance in EF2U&L before and just after commutation by
programming a current imbalance of 50A to compensate an offset problem
(?), getting rid of a voltage program imbalance, and finally adding
EF2's to the BR_0 Controller.

Raise the gain on BR_0 to 2.0

Set the BR_0 offset to 9mT (MINUS_1_VOLT = 0.009). This, combined with
the other changes, ended up giving a BR of -1 to -2MT, which it seemed
to prefer. After getting success with this value, we did not try
scanning further, so a different value may be better.

The first shot of the sequence of "good" discharges was 15. The next several
shots were spent tweaking the shape, including getting the RXL and ZXL control
going and increasing the early inner gap (by manually adjusting OH2
voltages), and actually getting data for/by BLIP and BLAB. The RXL and ZXL
control now seem to be working well, as the x-point was very well positioned at
least until the current ramp-down. The strike points executed their sweep over
the plates as the flux swung, as expected.

Shot 20 was an attempt to raise the current. The current did rise, to 560kA, but ended
in a hard disruption at 0.87 seconds. This shot was peculiar because the early
density went up much faster than on the preceeding shots, although no changes
were made early. The line density reached 8e19 by 250msec, then came down
sharply. The shots after the disruption were fizzles and/or ugly.

On the last two shots, Fairfax attempted to raise the TF to 5.3 Tesla in
preparation ofr the RF runs. This failed on 22 due to an improperly set safety
limit in the PLC, and succeeded on 23.

Francesca reported Argon signals all day, despite the fact that we were not
puffing Argon! This is something of a mystery, since we did ECDC this morning
and there was only one Ar puff allowed yesterday.

EFC was running close to zero current on several later shots. It may be
necessary to put EF2's in the ZCUR controller to provide better bias for slow
Z position control. Alternatively, the bias on the chopper could be
increased.

The EF1's were taken out of the slow Zcur controller so they wouldn't fight
the ZXL control. The Z-postion seemed less stable than yesterday, before and
after this was done. Part of this may be due to the above-noted behavior of
the EFc going to zero current.

Problems:
---------
EF3 did not fire on the first 2 shots. It was left in PLC control.

OH1 had a shoot-through with fuse loss on shot 14.

EF4 had some probelms at crossover, only noticed on fizzles and duds.

There was an Acknowledge failure on shot 13 transition to pulse. No shot.

Score Card:
-----------
Plasmas 9
Fizzles 10 (2 with no EF3)
Duds 3
No shot 1
-------- --
Total 23

Session Leader Comments
Sep 23 1993 09:05:49:840AMMartin GreenwaldRun 930923
Session leader: Bruce Lipschultz
Physics Operator: Steve Wolfe
Mini-proposal: MP016; Scrapeoff Layer Characterization I

The first priority of this run is to get consistent shots with
x-points in the proper location (diverted and strike points below the nose)
while at the same time have reasonable space between the plasma and
the limiters (both inner wall and the antenna limiter). We are starting with
a shot loaded in from 930921009 with changes specified under physics
operator log (use the z and r- x-point controllers).
Assuming that we do achieve reproducible shots then probe
measurements and other SOL measurements will be made and vary the
plasma current.

Sep 23 1993 09:15:42:240AM930923001Martin GreenwaldShot #1

No EF3 on this shot. Breakdown but no current. Try again.

Sep 23 1993 09:35:36:950AM930923002Martin GreenwaldShot #2
Fizzle
No EF3 again on this shot. Try again.

Sep 23 1993 09:54:50:130AM930923003Martin GreenwaldShot #3
dud
We had EF3 but did not even get breakdown. We changed the
offset on Br0 to 9 mTesla. We increased the gas fill to 1.4e-5 from
1.2 e-5.

Sep 23 1993 10:11:28:040AM930923004Martin GreenwaldShot #4
fizzle
We got a fast breakdown. The fields appear off so the current never
took off. We raised EF4 by 30 Amps and dropped the Br offset.

Sep 23 1993 10:29:50:840AM930923005Martin GreenwaldShot #5
fizzle
We got a fast breakdown (5ms start of Halpha). Lowered the radial field
a little for the next shot. gas set back to 1.2e-5.

Sep 23 1993 11:11:04:910AM930923006Martin GreenwaldShot #6
We got a shot. It disrupted at 680 ms.
It diverted pretty early. However, the plasma doesn't
move off the inner wall (as defined by spectroscopic diagnostics)
until almost 500 ms. At this time EFIT claims the inner wall
gap is 1.5 cm. The strike points are on
the noses of the divertors most of the time. We need to move the
x-point down and mover the plasma off the inner wall.
We got a fast breakdown (5ms start of Halpha). Lowered the radial field
a little for the next shot. gas set back to 1.2e-5.
For the next shot we will move both the plasma and the antenna
out by 1 cm. We raised the gas in the latter part of the shot.

Sep 23 1993 11:30:49:860AM930923007Martin GreenwaldShot #7
We got a fizzle after the disruption - no surprise. The plasma current tryed to
take off but, according to the SXR's it kept zipping upward and bouncing off the
top of the machine.

We will just change the
gain on B radial for the next shot.

Sep 23 1993 11:55:38:190AM930923008Martin GreenwaldShot #8
We got a good shot. A number of natural injections occurred. The
density increased steadily during the shot due to the increased gas puffing.
Maximum density is 5 e14. The position of the x-point is fairly good
from 250 ms on. The plasma slowly increases its distance from
the inner wall with real diverting action (probes on the upper side of the
inner divertor seeing signal) occurring around 500 ms.
The plasma current did not stay constant as the
density was increased (the loop voltage stayed constant(. This may indicate that
the gain on the Ip feedback needs to be increased.

For the next shot we will increase the proportional gain on Ip and zxl.
The gas will be decreased after 500 ms by about 40%. The plasma center
will be lowered by 1 cm to reduce the elongation somewhat.

Sep 23 1993 12:06:30:170PM930923009Martin GreenwaldShot #9
This was a dud. Steve W. feels that the radial field was too high
and will change it for the next shot.

Sep 23 1993 12:20:49:700PM930923010Martin GreenwaldShot #10
This was a fizzle. Things are being kept the same for the next shot.

Sep 23 1993 12:35:30:570PM930923011Martin GreenwaldShot #11
This was a fizzle. some small changes in fields for the next shot.

Sep 23 1993 12:52:55:120PM930923012Martin GreenwaldShot #12
This was a fizzle again.

Sep 23 1993 02:26:18:750PM930923014Martin GreenwaldShot #15
Finally a good shot again. This seems very similiar to shot 8. The x-point
position appears to be a little far out so that the outer strike point
is above the nose. The density starts dropping around 500 ms due to
the lowering of the pulsed gas after shot 8. There is a very unusual
occurrence at 700 ms. The plasma current increases suddenly. This is
accompanied by a decrease in density and Halpha. The probe signals
in the divertor and the div. bolos increase dramatically.

For the next shot we will add gas at around 80 ms to increase the
density early. We also turned on the rxl control to try to pull the
x-point back in major radius.

Sep 23 1993 02:53:56:270PM930923016Martin GreenwaldShot #16
Two shots in a row! The density seems to be quite high and flat at 5 e14
late in time. The Zeff during this period is low (1 or below). We will
try to fill in the density hesitation early in time (100 ms) and go for
this shot again. The rf has been given a release to fire 10 kW at 700 ms.
It will extend to 900 ms (current ramp down).

Sep 23 1993 03:20:56:250PM930923017Martin GreenwaldShot #17
Three shots in a row! We managed to fill in the density early in time. The x-point
position looks good through most of the shoit. The gap to the inner wall
opens up to 2 cm by 400 ms and stays fairly constant for the remainder of
the shot.

For the next shot we plan to try and raise the density early in the
shot (80 - 100 ms) some more. There is a rather large injection of
impurities at that time.

Sep 23 1993 03:35:59:850PM930923018Martin GreenwaldShot #18
Four shots in a row! This seems to be what we are looking for. The injection of
impurities early in time is probably due to the oscillations in position.
We will repeat this shot because the scanning probe was not
enabled last shot.

Sep 23 1993 04:01:29:080PM930923019Martin GreenwaldShot #19
Five shots in a row! This shot seems to be again what we wanted; flat
density and current vs time. It is diverted from about 200 ms on. The
scanning probe went in to the separatrix.
For the next shot we will try to increase the plasma current by 100 kA.

Sep 23 1993 04:29:59:680PM930923020Martin GreenwaldShot #20
This shot barely made it up because of some enormous gas load. The
plasma disrupted at the beginning of current rampdown. The
density achieved is a record for gas puffing - 8e19 nel. My guess is that
the gas came from the disruption during durrent decay on the previous shot.
For the next shot we will try to lower the gas puff to compensate
for the4 gas from the disruption on this shot.

ps: the current decay rate for that disruption was 560 kA/msec.

Sep 23 1993 04:39:55:570PM930923021Martin GreenwaldShot #21
Fizzle as expected due to the disruption on the previous shot. We will
lower the fill pressure to 1.0e-5.

Sep 23 1993 04:53:46:460PM930923022Martin GreenwaldShot #22
This shot barely survived bast breakdown. It had injections occuring
into the plasma from 25 ms on. The density screamed up to 6e19 before
the plasma disrupted at 350 ms. We will put the fill pressure back to
1.2e-5.

Physics Operator Comments
Sep 23 1993 08:47:17:860AMMartin GreenwaldStart from 930921009 withthe following changes:
1) Need to recalculate M's on wires 2 & 3 because of new gain
of 4 in AFOL to Chopper.
2) Put BR_0 on wire 7 as yesterday. Use CUSTOM to modify VACUUM
predictor to add 8e-3 on MINUS_1_VOLT. Draw zero for \S_BR_0
Load PID P=1.0 from -0.8sec to +0.03sec
FACTOR = 40.
M = OH2U -1500, OH2L + 1500
Turn off PID on Wire 8
3) Check of PIDs found that gain on wires 13,14 (IC_EF2U&L) was turning
off at 0.5 sec. Changed end to 1.5sec

Plan:
Get plasma - hopefully this won't take all day.
Get acceptable diverted shot by:
Move RCUR out
Move Zcur down
Use ZXL and maybe RXL control.
Probably want to move the limiter/antenna out (now at 92/94)
Try using less EF2 U current to help lower elongation.

Sep 23 1993 09:17:22:270AM930923001Martin GreenwaldShot #1
Fizzle
No EF3 on this shot.
BR is negative -1.5e-3 to -1.0e-3.
A_OUT on wire 7 is -0.5e-3

Sep 23 1993 09:29:19:320AM930923002Martin GreenwaldShot #2
Fizzle
No again EF3 on this shot.
It was under PLC control! That explains it, I guess.

BR is still negative -1.5e-3 to -1.0e-3.
Breakdowns are late 10:11msec on Halpha K-port, no signal on Z-meter?
Bz is quite positive when it goes.

Sep 23 1993 09:52:10:560AM930923003Steve WolfeShot 3:
Yuichi moved the limiter out to 93 cm. Antenna still at 94.
DUD !!
Maybe BR0 really is too low.

Sep 23 1993 10:07:46:710AM930923004Steve WolfeShot 4:
Gas to 1.4e-5
Offset on BR0 to 9mT (from 8mT)
Horne says that the previous one had too negative a BZ. I don't
think so,but I'll keep it in mind.

Result:
Fizzle.
Breakdown at 6.8msec.
Br is now zero+/- 1mT

Sep 23 1993 10:27:38:260AM930923005Steve WolfeShot 5:
Raise ef4 30Amps at 1msec
Drop BR offset to 8.5e-3

Result:
Fizzle again
Earlier breakdown - 5.6msec

Sep 23 1993 10:41:01:750AM930923006Steve WolfeShot 6:

Drop BR offset to 8.e-3
Lower pressure back to 1.2e-5

Result:
Plasma Breaks down about 6msec.
Small hesitation.
Disrupts at 690msec. Lots of natural injections.

Sep 23 1993 11:25:55:020AM930923007Steve WolfeShot 7:
MOve RCUR from 67 to 68cm
Change IC_EF2U @ 0.8 sec from 1500 to 1000.
Limiter and antenna move out to 94/95
Turn on ZXL controller at 0.2sec P=2.0
Set EF1 M controllers on ZCUR2 to zero at 0.2sec
Raise gas puff between 200msec and 800msec

Result:
Fizzle - late breakdown. Br -1mT
Current got to 40kA
It went up fast.

Sep 23 1993 11:46:53:280AM930923008Steve WolfeShot 8:
Raise PID gain on BR (wire7) to 2.0

Result: Good PLasma
Br = -1.5 mT, maybe less of a glitch at 6msec

Density is rising through shot. Current droops a little.
ZXL is rising a little but seems pretty well controlled.
Marginally diverted from 200 msec

Sep 23 1993 12:05:09:260PM930923008Steve WolfeShot 9:
Raise PID gain on IP to 2.0
Raise gain on ZXL 2.0
Lower gas Between 500msec and 800msec
Lower zcur by 1cm from -2 to -3.

Result:
Dud
Br = -2mT

Sep 23 1993 12:21:32:300PM930923009Steve WolfeShot 10:
Increase offset on Br to 9e-3

Result:
Fizzle - breaksdown at 7msec

Sep 23 1993 12:28:03:740PM930923010Steve WolfeShot 11:
No change

Result:
Same

Sep 23 1993 12:48:27:100PM930923011Steve WolfeShot 12:
The EF2U & L programming was different around commutation.
Also, the EF2L has higher current by 60A (which was not programmed).

Add a point on EF2L at -.008,1700 (level had been 1750.)
Move value at -.285 from 1750 to 1700
Get rid of point at 0.017,1750

Result:
Another fizzle
Breakdown at 6msec

Sep 23 1993 12:57:33:920PM930923012Steve WolfeShot 13:
Add EF2's to controller on BR. with gains of +/- 5000.
Change factor on unused wire 8 from 1e-4 to 1e-5

Result:
Ack Failure on STATE? No shot.

Sep 23 1993 01:13:42:530PM930923014Steve WolfeShot 14:
Retry of 13. Changes from 12 were:
Add EF2's to controller on BR. with gains of +/- 5000.
Change factor on unused wire 8 from 1e-4 to 1e-5

Result:
Dud! maybe a weak flash on the TV?
OH1 blew fuses - looks like a shoot-through
Null doesn't look good. May need to boost EF4 to compensate for drop
in EF2U?

Sep 23 1993 02:15:46:600PM930923015Steve WolfeShot 15:
Increase IC_EF4 by 30Amps; now at 1160.
Delay pulse gas 3msec.

Result:
Plasma lasts 1sec looks good.
BR = -1.5 to -2 mT
There is a hesitation but it runs

ZXL is pretty good ,but elongation is still up there.

Sep 23 1993 02:30:30:460PM930923015Steve WolfeShot 16:

Increase gas at 70-80msec and between 500 and 800msec
Reduce gain on IC_EF1L at 300 msec to 0.48 (was 2.0)

Turn on RXL control at 0.2sec P=1 M_EF2L=.005

Result: Good plasma

Sep 23 1993 03:19:12:770PM930923017Steve WolfeShot 17:

Raise OH2 voltage to -10V between .2 and .4 sec (was -18)
Raise ZXL gain to 10.
RXL gain to 5.0
Increase gas by 10% between 70 and 100msec

Result:
Looks good. Xpt is right where it wants to be and inner gap is constant
from 400 msec on.

Sep 23 1993 03:31:57:970PM930923017Steve WolfeShot 18:

Raise gas between 80 and 100msec

Results:
Looks real good.

Sep 23 1993 03:44:15:790PM930923019Steve WolfeShot 19:

Raise D on RCUR from 1 to 2 to try to control early osciallation.

Results:
Looks real good. Disrupts at 0.9 vertically

Sep 23 1993 04:17:27:760PM930923020Steve WolfeShot 20:

Raise D on RCUR from 2 to 4 to try to control early oscilation.
Try to raise current by 100kA by extending the same slope on the ramp

Results:
got 560kA, but disrupts hard at .87. This one has a big problem early
with a gas burst.

Sep 23 1993 04:37:01:010PM930923020Steve WolfeShot 21:
Drop D on RCUR back to 1.0
Lower OH2 voltages from -10 to -14 between 200 and 400 msec
Lower gas 15% between 80 and 120msec

Results:
Fizzle

Sep 23 1993 04:52:11:920PM930923021Steve WolfeShot 22:
Reduce EF2U current end point from 1000V to 500V
Lower fill to 1.0e-5 (BLIP insists)
SF will extend the TF to reach 5.2 T

Results:
Short and unpleasant. EFC faulted at the VDE 330msec
Lots of little injections from the beginning.
Lots of hards

Sep 23 1993 04:52:20:210PM930923022Steve WolfeShot 22:
Reduce EF2U current end point from 1000V to 500V
Lower fill to 1.0e-5 (BLIP insists)
SF will extend the TF to reach 5.2 T

Results:
Short and unpleasant. EFC faulted at the VDE 330msec
Lots of little injections from the beginning.
Lots of hards

Sep 23 1993 05:06:37:230PM930923023Steve WolfeShot 22:
Pressure back to 1.2e-5

Results:
Fizzle

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
109:07:17:150AMPlasmaBadNo EF3
209:22:41:910AMPlasmaBadNo EF3: EF3 was in PLC control
309:42:37:210AMPlasmaOk
409:56:24:640AMPlasmaOkFizzle
510:14:46:070AMPlasmaOkFizzle
610:31:38:420AMPlasmaOk490 ka disruption
711:14:00:200AMPlasmaOkFizzle; 37 minutes in RECOOL
811:31:06:640AMPlasmaOkGood 490 kA plasma, disrupted at 150 kA
911:57:08:650AMPlasmaOkFizzle
1012:08:57:590PMPlasmaOkFizzle
1112:22:45:010PMPlasmaOkfizzle
1212:36:24:220PMPlasmaOkfizzle
1312:54:02:070PMPlasmaBadIGOR? Ack Failure
1401:01:35:050PMPlasmaOkFizzle followed by shoot-thru failure in OH1; 5 fuses blown in forward c
1501:56:30:740PMPlasmaOk470 kA; 1 sec; disrupted at 71 kA. Best shot of the day
1602:27:08:640PMPlasmaOkGood shot; 460 ka; 1 sec, disrupted at 150 kA
1702:53:40:070PMPlasmaOkGood shot; similar to last 2; disrupted at 100 kA
1803:21:15:950PMPlasmaOkGood; disrupted at 150 kA after 1 sec
1903:37:08:110PMPlasmaOkPLasma shot 450KA NO faults.
2004:01:39:970PMPlasmaOkNasty 500ka/msec disruption from 560 kA
2104:29:03:830PMPlasmaOkFizzle
2204:42:08:630PMPlasmaOkEarly disruption; TF set to 5.1 Tesla OK
2305:00:15:390PMPlasmaOkFizzle, TF reached 5.4 Tesla without incident. TF did not behave at cro