Operation of a double stub tuner for Alcator C-Mod lower hybrid current drive system

Abstract

This paper describes the operation of a double stub fast ferrite tuner (FFT) that we have designed for the Alcator C-Mod 4.6GHz Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) system. This FFT is unique because it uses a single electromagnet coil and permanent magnet on each tuning stub. The ferrite is located on the center of the broad face of the waveguide. The FFT is required to withstand over 200kW of power (20kW/cm2) at high VSWR (>5) for 1-3 second pulses spaced 10 minutes apart. Breakdown measurements and fabrication considerations will be discussed. Also, simulation of thermal conditions will be shown. The FFT will be computer controlled and must react to matching a load in a few hundred microseconds. This puts a severe requirement on power supply response time and its variation. In addition, the calculation time of the controlling software algorithms must be considered as well as the diffusion time of the controlling magnetic field through the waveguide wall. We will discuss these requirements and what we have done to meet them.