From: WOLFE@PSFC.MIT.EDU
Reply-To: WOLFE@PSFC.MIT.EDU
Subject: Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
Organization: MIT


Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
Feb 28, 2000


Preparation for the next C-Mod experimental campaign continued last week. We
are on schedule to begin plasma operations during the last week in March.

Initial (pre-bake) evaluation of the vacuum status is good, with no detectable
leaks remaining as of Thursday. A high-temperature bakeout commenced on Friday,
with the vessel held at 100C through Monday morning. The bake temperature has
now been increased to 110C; the high-temperature bake is planned to continue
through the end of this week.

While the vessel is undergoing bakeout, the magnet and structure temperatures
are being maintained at reduced temperature (< -50C) by LN2 cooling. The
cryogenic system is now fully operational.

The PEI supply, which powers the Toroidal Field magnet during Electron
Cyclotron Discharge Cleaning (ECDC) has been tested and is ready for
operation. ECDC is expected to begin this week.

The diborane cabinet has been relocated from the cell to the vestibule under
the bus tunnel. The exhaust and air lines have been installed. Work on this
system is continuing.

ICRF Systems:
--------------
The 78 MHz resonant loops for [0,pi,0,pi] phasing have been tested and the
decoupler measured. The current drive loop measurements will be completed
this week. The antenna protection system time response has been reduced to 5
usec. This system monitors the ratio of reflected/forward power, the maximum
voltage, and the antenna current balance.

The transmitters FMIT#3 and #4 were each tested into dummy load up to 2.1 MW
with good characteristics. Longer pulse (~1 sec) under remote control testing
will begin this week.

DNB
---
Good progress was made on the diagnostic neutral beam system. Wiring
modifications to the DNB Master Control Logic timing circuits to allow remote
setting of important timing parameters and synchronization with the CMOD shot
cycle were completed. The DNB timing software was changed for compatibility
with the modified MCL timing circuits, and the DNB Conditioning software and
modified DNB MCL timing circuits were tested successfully. Arcdown interrupt
response of the modified DNB MCL timing circuits was also tested successfully.

Travel and Visitors
--------------------
Miklos Porkolab represented APS DPP at the EPS Program Committee Meeting in
Budapest, Hungary, on Feb. 25,26. Four more US oral talks were selected for
the EPS Meeting in Budapest, on June 12-16. This brings up the total number of
US presentations to 10, out of a total of 56 talks, including 6 US invited
talks and 4 oral contributed talks. This is a respectable representation at
this mainly European Meeting on Plasma Physics and Fusion research. This year
the goal was to keep half of the talks non-fusion oriented. Therefore, the
available fusion slots were highly contested by the many more nominations from
Europe, the US and Japan.