Alcator C-Mod Run 991103 Information

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Miniproposals
Miniproposal:228
Date Filed: 1/15/1999
Title:Scrape-off Layer Transport Studies
First Author:Brian Labombard
Session Leader:Brian Labombard (shots 6-23)
Miniproposal:236
Date Filed: 3/9/1999
Title:Edge Pedestal Assymetries with Reversed Field
First Author:Robert Granetz
Session Leader:Robert Granetz (shots 1-5)

Operators
Session leader(s):Robert Granetz,Brian Labombard
Physics operator(s):Steve Wolfe
Engineering operator(s):Frank Silva

Engineering Operator Run Comment
MP#236/Granetz, Silva

Session Leader Plans

Physics Operators Plans

Session Leader Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:22:273PM
Author: To Be Determined
Run summary for run 991103A

MP 236 -- H-mode pedestals in reversed field with lower X-pt.

SL: R. Granetz
PO: S. Wolfe
EO: F. Silva

Goal: Get H-modes (w/ICRF) in reversed field plasmas and look for poloidal
asymmetries in the x-ray edge pedestals. Because the arrays are
mechanically aligned to look at lower single null plasmas, this is what
we have to run. This means that the grad-B drift, which is now upward,
is away from the x-point, and therefore we'll probably need multi-
megawatts of RF power to get an H-mode. Other options to enhance our
chances are: raise Ip to 1.2 MA, lower Bt a bit (5.0-5.1 T), and keep
the density low.

Summary: Transmitter #2 died after the first plasma shot, and is unavailable
until sometime next week at the earliest. Since we therefore had
no chance of getting an H-mode with the lower X-point plasma, I
turned the run over the Brian Labombard for his miniproposal after
shot 5. On shot 5, we had a neon puff during the ohmic phase
(at t=0.5 s). The neon stayed in the machine, and therefore also
showed up in the ICRF L-mode phase as well. Although the signal
levels were low (since there wasn't an H-mode), the indications are
that top profile was shifted radially inward ever so slightly
compared to similar neon puffing into plasmas with the usual B-field
direction.

We need to re-schedule this run when the ICRF is capable of sustained
high power.

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

Shot 01 -- Dud. No EF2's, EF3. Engineering operator error.

Delay for cell access to check density interferometer.

Shot 02 -- Plasma. Ip=0.8 MA, Bt=5.4 T, nl_04=1.0e20 m-2. Prf=1 MW. Heating,
no H-mode.

There's a problem with transmitter #2.

Shot 03 -- Fizzle.

Shot 04 -- Fizzle.

Shot 05 -- Plasma. Good shot. 1.3 MW of RF (D-port only) from t=0.75 to 1.1 s.
L-Mode. This shot had a 50 ms neon puff at t=0.5 s (and argon is
enabled as well). There's just barely enough x-ray signal to do
the reconstructions. It seems that the top profiles are shifted
a tiny amount inward (radially) compared to the normal field case.


Due to the failure of transmitter 2, there is no hope of getting H-modes with
these lower X-point plasmas. Therefore, I'm turning the run over to Brian
Labombard for his miniproposal.

Entered: Jul 7 2004 03:49:22:290PM
Author: To Be Determined
Session Leader's summary of second part of run 991103
MP#228 - SOL Transport with reversed Bt

Physics Operator: Wolfe
Session Leader: LaBombard

Background:
Previous operation with reversed Bt has yielded some interesting
phenomena in the edge plasma/divertor: reversed in/out density and
temperature asymmetries on the divertor plates, reversed direction
of parallel flows in the scrape-off layer, and reversed direction
of thermoelectric currents in the scrape-off layer. Also associated
with reversed Bt is the observation that the H-mode power threshold
is much higher. It has been speculated that the change in power
threshold may be caused by one or more the changes in boundary phenomena.

New diagnostics are now available to study changes in scrape-off layer
phenomena caused by Bt reversal including: A new scanning Mach probe at
the outer midplane (ASP), tomographic reconstruction of CIII and
CII dispersal "plumes" in the SOL, the capability of recording fluctuations
and transport on scanning probes and divertor plate probes, new
edge thomson system, and a new Lyman-alpha emission diagnostic to infer
ionization profiles across the separatrix.

By comparing discharges which are identical except for Bt reversal,
it is hoped that the underlying mechanism(s) for the observed differences
can be uncovered. At this time, the best data from the probe diagnostics
is obtained in non-rf heated discharges. For this reason, the focus
here is on ohmic-only discharges. Also, there already exists a number of well
diagnosed normal Bt ohmic discharges in the database with Ip=0.8 and 1.0 MA
and Bt=5.3 tesla at a variety of densities. Therefore we would like to
fill this parameter space with corresponding reversed Bt discharges.

Goal:
Record cross-field SOL profiles of density, Te, parallel flow, and fluctuations, in
ohmic ohmic L-mode reversed Bt discharges with various core densities and plasma
currents. Also, monitor local impurity transport in the SOL by recording camera
images of CIII and CII 'plumes' generated by puffing C2H4 from the F-scanning probe.

Target conditions are: NL04 = 0.7, 1.0, 1.3x10^20 with Ip=0.8 and 1.0 MA

Setup:
FSP: - Operate in two bias modes:
(a) West/East-sweep, North/South-float mode
(b) West/South-sweep, North/East-float mode
- Enable gas (C2H4) for optional plumes
- Set up for a "deep" scan to the separatrix

ASP: - Operate in two bias modes: (South probe is dead)
(a) West/East-sweep, North-float mode
(b) West-sweep, North/East-float mode
- Set up for a "deep" scan to the separatrix

FMP: - Operate in two bias modes:
(a) Divertor probes in sweep and Vf mode with gated fast sampling
(b) Divertor probes in Isat and Vf mode with continuous fast sampling
________________________________________________________________________________
Result:
We managed to get only 9 plasma shots for this MP today. We got the coarse
density scan for Ip=0.8 MA except that we did not get the fluctuation data for the NL04=1.3 setup.
Perhaps we can get this on friday. CIII plumes indicate that the ExB flows in the scrape-off layer
reverse, as expected. Similar to the FSP probe, the ASP recorded parallel flows in the opposite
direction to that obtained in normal Bt discharges. SOL particle transport analysis and
fluctuation analysis needs to be done on these data.

We also did some basic flapper tests today. Spencer flapped the B and C flappers
(and other combinations) while JT looked for H-alpha increases on his reticon array. We also did
a heavy gas puff (12 torr-liters) of D2 through capillary C32-020 on shot#9 in order to see it on
JT's reticon array and compare it to the flapper gas release. But the reticon saw neither puff!
The C-side H-alpha survey view did see some increases and Spencer is using these data to
estimate the flow rate through the flapper.

Quick Shot Log:

Execution of this miniproposal started from shot#6 today:

shot Ip NL04 Probe Bias Plume Comment
6 0.8 1 Mach CIII C Flapper at .65 sec, Plume drifts up now (reversed B)
7 no plasma
8 no plasma
9 0.8 1 Mach CIII C Flapper at .75 sec, D2 puff from C32-020, Good plume data
10 no plasma
11 0.8 1 Mach CIII all flaps at .75 sec, good plumes
12 0.8 1 Fluctuation no C2H4
13 no plasma
14 0.8 0.7 Mach CIII good plumes
15 no plasma
16 0.8 0.7 Fluctuation no C2H4
17 0.8 0.7 Mach no C2H4
18 0.8 1.3 Mach CIII good plume
19 no plasma
20 no plasma
21 0.8 1.3 Mach no C2H4

__________________________________________________________________________________________
NOTE: Te on outer divertor probes #8, #3 (maybe #7) are indicating way too high today
which suggests a problem with fitting parameters in LP_ANAL.

Physics Operator Summaries
Entered: Jul 7 2004 04:37:09:927PM
Author: To Be Determined
Physop Summary for Wednesday, 991103

MP #236 (+Bt) pedestal meas
SL: Granetz
PO: wolfe
Experiment changed after a few shots to:
MP#228 Reverse-field SOL, SL=LaBombard

This was a difficult run from many standpoints. We lost transmitter #2 to a
cavity arc on the first shot, forcing a re-direction of the remainder of the
run. We did get one shot (#5) with neon puffing and 1.3MW from D-port for
Thomas/Bob to evaluate the impurity transport in reverse field.

Brian's experiment MP228 wanted ohmic discharges, so the RF team was given the
rest of the day off once we switched over at shot#6.

Startups continued to be problematic. All of the successful plasmas had bad
hesitations, and most seemed to turn back inside in RCUR before taking
off. The fizzles looked like they were inside and crunched on the inner
wall. I tried several tweaks of IC_EF4, oh voltages, and RCUR offset, and
fill pressure but nothing made an obvious improvement. The main problem seems
to be that the current rise is very slow.

Aside from the ~50% startup rate, there were no particular operational issues
today. The plasmas were all long, although at the high density we only got to
about 1.7 sec instead of 2.0 in rampdown. Toward the end of the day we started
getting early runaways, but that seems to be part of the startup problem.

There was a recurrence of the OH2l pre-charge fault on shot 10 that looked
just like yesterday's: crowbar at -0.7sec with no fuse loss found. Shot 13 had
an alternator inhibit fault in CHECK, and was run through with the breakers
open.

Summary:
--------
Shot 1 was a dud due to lack of EF2's
Shots 2-5 were for the Granetz/Pedersen experiment. Two plasmas, two fizzles.
#5 had the neon puff.
Shots 6-12 were 1e20 ohmic shots for Brian; 4 plasmas, 2 fizzles, 1dud
Shot 13 was a non-power cycle
Shot 14-17 were at 0.7e20. 3 plasmas, 1 fizzle
Shots 18-23 were supposed to be at 1.3e20. 2 plasmas, 4 fizzles.

Scorecard:
------------

Duds 3 (all due to power supply/alternator lossage)
Fizzles 9
Plasmas 11
------- --
Total 23







Session Leader Comments
Nov 3 1999 10:17:30:763AMRobert GranetzMP 236 -- H-mode pedestals in reversed field with lower X-pt.

SL: R. Granetz
PO: S. Wolfe
EO: F. Silva

Goal: Get H-modes (w/ICRF) in reversed field plasmas and look for poloidal
asymmetries in the x-ray edge pedestals. Because the arrays are
mechanically aligned to look at lower single null plasmas, this is what
we have to run. This means that the grad-B drift, which is now upward,
is away from the x-point, and therefore we'll probably need multi-
megawatts of RF power to get an H-mode. Other options to enhance our
chances are: raise Ip to 1.2 MA, lower Bt a bit (5.0-5.1 T), and keep
the density low.
Nov 3 1999 12:29:15:420PM991103006Brian LabombardC Flapper at .65 sec.

ASP, FSP firing. Puffing C2H4 from FSP. CIII FIlter
Plume drifts up now (reversed B)

Next shot: increase outer gap, change probe timing

Nov 3 1999 01:24:47:093PM991103009Brian LabombardC Flapper at .75 sec.

ASP, FSP firing. Puffing C2H4 from FSP. CIII FIlter

D2 puff from C32-20 fill: 700 torr, trigger: 0.75, duration: 0.5


Next shot: Repeat with deeper FSP/ASP insertion

Nov 3 1999 02:13:23:247PM991103011Brian Labombardall Flaps at .75 sec.

ASP, FSP firing. Puffing C2H4 from FSP. CIII FIlter


Next shot: Repeat with FSP/ASP in fluctuation mode.

Nov 3 1999 02:28:43:967PM991103012Brian LabombardASP, FSP firing. No C2H4 puff
fluctuation mode.


Next shot: lower density to NL04 = 0.7

Nov 3 1999 03:05:38:467PM991103014Brian LabombardASP, FSP firing. C2H4 puff, CIII filter
Mach mode.


Next shot: repeat in fluctuation mode

Nov 3 1999 03:57:01:090PM991103016Brian LabombardASP, FSP firing. No C2H4 puff.
Fluctuation mode.


Next shot: repeat in Mach mode with no C2H4 puff

Nov 3 1999 04:19:27:280PM991103017Brian LabombardASP, FSP firing. With no C2H4 puff
Mach mode.


Next shot: Go to NL04 = 1.3

Nov 3 1999 04:38:18:107PM991103018Brian LabombardASP, FSP firing. C2H4 puff, CIII filters
Mach mode.


Next shot: Repeat without C2H4, deeper ASP insertion

Nov 3 1999 05:26:43:780PM991103021Brian LabombardASP, FSP firing. No C2H4
Mach mode.


Next shot: Repeat in fluctuation mode

Physics Operator Comments
Nov 3 1999 08:00:26:577AMSteve WolfeLoad from 991102030
Coldstart @06:58
Log file ok.
Do a LOAD/CLEAN (forgot to load before coldstart)
Get some coffee
Nov 3 1999 10:26:43:263AM991103001Steve WolfeShot 1: Loaded from 991102030.
They did some ECDC in helium for about 5 minutes, and had some gas problems

DUD: No EF2's - Frank says "Operator Error".

Irby didn't get a trigger. It works on test shots?
Ratiomatic was turned off; turn on for next shot.
Nov 3 1999 11:00:32:343AM991103002Steve WolfeShot 2: Irby couldn't find anything wrong with TCI - try a repeat, with EF2s.
plasma - full length

The hesitation is still there.
RF is there, E faults early, D ramps to 1MW
right gap is pretty solid at 0.7cm, except for crossover, when it gets very small
left gap drops from 1.2 to .7

Next shot:
Change CLEARIN from -.05 to -.03 at t=.1 and earlier.
Turn on the argon
BR0 form -.001 to 0.
Nov 3 1999 11:20:30:437AM991103003Steve WolfeShot 3: Change CLEARIN from -.05 to -.03 at t=.1 and earlier.
Turn on the argon
BR0 form -.001 to 0.
Brian will puff ethylene this shot
RF has a problem with #2

fizzle.

Next shot: Enable 50msec Neon puff at .5 sec
BR0 back to -.001

Nov 3 1999 11:36:25:717AM991103004Steve WolfeShot 4: Change CLEARIN from -.05 to -.03 at t=.1 and earlier.
Turn on the argon
Enable 50msec Neon puff at .5 sec
BR0 back to -.001
Brian will also puff ethylene this shot
RF has a problem with #2; they will try to fire #1 only,
then see if #2 is fixable.

Fizzle. Forgot to change BR0!
Next Shot: Actually change BR0!
Nov 3 1999 12:07:05:733PM991103005Steve WolfeShot 5: Change CLEARIN from -.05 to -.03 at t=.1 and earlier.
Turn on the argon
Enable 50msec Neon puff at .5 sec
BR0 back to -.001 (really, this time)
Brian will also puff ethylene this shot
RF has a serious problem with #2. Probably not fixable this week.

plasma - No tv at front of room, but the plasma is full length.
looks like some runaways early.
RF gets 1.3MW.

Next shot: Double the neon puff
Nov 3 1999 12:27:39:920PM991103006Steve WolfeShot 6: Change of plan. No more neon, or RF.
Brian is now in charge, increas gaps to 1.5cm on outside and similar inside
INcrease CLEARIN to .02
No change to startup; see if it will repeat

plasma: hesitation is still there, but I won't touch it until we lose
the plasma.
Sanjay reports the plumes go the other way.
Nov 3 1999 12:44:22:670PM991103007Steve WolfeShot 7: Delay RCUR flattop to .62sec, decrease to .671 from .673 to increase
outer gap.

fizzle. Bz was less negative this time.
Next shot: EF4 from 1425 to 1410
Nov 3 1999 01:03:30:013PM991103008Steve WolfeShot 8: EF4 from 1425 to 1410
Delay RCUR flattop to .62sec, decrease to .671 from .673 to increase
outer gap.

fizzle.
Nov 3 1999 01:22:53:653PM991103009Steve WolfeShot 9: EF4 fro 1410 to 1390.

plasma. I don't know why, but plasma.
Bad hesitation (turns around), and the Bz looks too high (negative).
Gap looks ok to me, although it didn't grow as much as I expected.

Nov 3 1999 01:36:12:310PM991103010Steve WolfeShot 10: Change initial RCUR point from .61 to .62 (make program waveform
flat for first 50msec.) NO seg 2 changes.

Dud - PF breaker pulled out.
OH2L, just like yesterday
Nov 3 1999 02:14:24:590PM991103011Steve WolfeShot 11: Change initial RCUR point from .61 to .62 (make program waveform
flat for first 50msec.) NO seg 2 changes.

plasma. TV started working again.
long hesitation, but no dip. Maybe a little more sensible RCUR, but still
moves in a little a couple of times.
Nov 3 1999 02:28:26:233PM991103012Steve WolfeShot 12: repeat
And it did - plasma

A little dicier on the startup, but it made it.
Next shot: lower density to 0.7
Nov 3 1999 02:48:20:827PM991103013Steve WolfeShot 13: lower density to 0.7 and reduce PG3 voltage after .12sec
No power shot - alternator inhibit fault. Ran through the sequence anyway
to avoid the usual back-out problem
Nov 3 1999 03:19:14:513PM991103014Steve WolfeShot 14: lower density to 0.7 and reduce PG3 voltage after .12sec

plasma - tv is gone again.
Another long hesitation, no dip.
nl4 = 7e19. got some injections early
Nov 3 1999 03:26:50:170PM991103015Steve WolfeShot 15: Repeat.
fizzle - now I can play with startup some more;

Nov 3 1999 04:00:28:590PM991103016Steve WolfeShot 16: Add -50V to V_OH1 at .007,.008,.015sec;
add -10V to the OH2's at the same times

plasma
Still has a long hesitation, maybe worse!
rcur turns back at 20-25msec now.
Some hards on this one.

Nov 3 1999 04:05:19:733PM991103017Steve WolfeShot 17: Change RCUR offset from -8000 to -7000
plasma
still has some hards.
still hesitates, less of an rcur turnaround, but still does it.

Next shot: 1.3e20
Nov 3 1999 04:31:58:360PM991103018Steve WolfeShot 18: Increase nl4 to 1.3e20, raise pg3 maint level to ~35V
In seg 1 - raise V_oh1/oh2 by -50/-10V at 15, 20msec

plasma to 1.8sec; hards still there.
lost it to vertical problem in rampdown, after ef2's go to zero.
Still hesitates.
Has an injection at crossover, density at 1.3-1.4, sagging slightly
Nov 3 1999 04:46:59:497PM991103019Steve WolfeShot 19: lower seg2 pg3 maintenance level to 20V later in discharge
leave startup alone this time.

fizzle. That's what I get for leaving it alone!

Nov 3 1999 05:06:19:860PM991103020Steve WolfeShot 20:rcur offset from -7000 to -9000 (maybe I was going the wrong way?)
another fizzle. Bz is higher at 15msec, which is consistent.
Nov 3 1999 05:30:08:950PM991103021Steve WolfeShot 21: RCUR offset back to -7000. reduce gas puff from 22msec to 19msec

plasma - it came back.
so did the hards, not quite as bad this time
hesitation is horrid, current turns around and then survives

Nov 3 1999 05:43:38:000PM991103022Steve WolfeShot 22: Increase the seg1 pg3 puff (after 30ms) to help with runaways, maybe
No other changes.

fizzle. bz is more positive, but the current turns over sooner?
Nov 3 1999 06:07:40:547PM991103023Steve WolfeShot 23: EF4 from 1390 to 1370
Daigle rebooted before we could get a shot off.
Gary restarted cycle; only time for the one shot.

fizzle. That's all for today.
Bz came up (more negative), as expected,
current rise too slow, turns around and dies.

Engineering Operator Comments
ShotTimeTypeStatusComment
110:10:07:827AMPlasmaBadEF2 u-l in plc control
210:41:53:950AMPlasmaOkno faults/plasma
311:11:42:827AMPlasmaOkno faults/fizzel
411:31:52:950AMPlasmaOkno faults/fizzel
511:57:35:543AMPlasmaOkno faults/plasma
612:17:35:140PMPlasmaOkno faults/plasma
712:39:17:640PMPlasmaOkno faults/fizzel
812:57:28:437PMPlasmaOkno faults/fizzel
901:11:47:030PMPlasmaOkno faults/plasma
1001:34:03:077PMPlasmaOkComm. Fail on supplies fuse check ok
1102:06:04:467PMPlasmaOkno faults/plasma
1202:23:09:200PMPlasmaOkno faults/plasma
1302:43:53:327PMPlasmaBadalternator inhibit fault , no pulse
1402:56:59:390PMPlasmaOkplasma
1503:22:03:983PMPlasmaOkfizzle
1603:37:29:920PMPlasmaOk(null)
1704:01:16:750PMPlasmaOk(null)
1804:24:18:590PMPlasmaOk(null)
1904:45:21:310PMPlasmaOk(null)
2005:01:22:497PMPlasmaOk(null)
2105:17:00:340PMPlasmaOk(null)
2205:39:36:623PMPlasmaOk(null)
2306:00:16:840PMPlasmaOk(null)