Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
From: "Stephen M. Wolfe" <wolfe@psfc.mit.edu>
Reply-To: wolfe@psfc.mit.edu
Organization: MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Subject: Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights


Alcator C-Mod Weekly Highlights
November 3, 2003



Most C-Mod physicists attended the 45th DPP APS meeting in Albuquerque,
New Mexico last week. No plasma operation was planned or carried
out. Work continued on lower hybrid and ICRF systems and machine
maintenance. Plasma Operations will resume this week.

Physics
-------

Most of the C-Mod physicists attended the APS meeting last week. Seven invited
talks, 12 contributed oral presentations, and 23 posters were presented on
C-Mod related physics. All of these presentations will be available on line at

http://www.psfc.mit.edu/cmod/sciprogram/aps_abstracts.html

in the next few days.


Operations
----------

General maintenance to power, cryo, and diagnostics systems was
performed last week. The diborane system was checked out and is ready
to perform the first boronization of the current campaign, which is
expected to take place this week. Electron cyclotron discharge
cleaning of the vessel continued all week.


Lower Hybrid Systems
--------------------

We continued to bring the two recently reworked klystrons back into operation
with a careful conditioning process. Over a several day period the peak power
levels and pulse lengths have been increased on the first tube,which is now
producing 1 second pulses at 208 kW. Conditioning of the second tube has just
begun.


ICRF Systems
------------

Two 35 Ohm transformers have been added to the D-Port antenna transmission
line system. These components will be tested this week as part of a load
tolerant system capable maintaining a good match to the transmitters during
large excursions in antenna loading.


Diagnostic Neutral Beam
-----------------------

Work continued last week on the arc current correction circuit for the
diagnostic neutral beam. The slope corrections to the arc current have
reduced the variation in beam current to less than 0.75 A during a
typical 50 ms pulse.

Travel and Visitors
--------------------

Ian Hutchinson, Steve Wolfe and Robert Granetz participated in the Post-APS
Error Magnetic Field Workshop in Albuguerque, NM. Hutchinson made a
presentation entitled "Non-axisymmetric Fields, Plasma Rotation, and Locked
Modes on Alcator C-Mod".



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