Plasmas were first produced on January 29th after two days of system tests needed to bring up power systems. The past two weeks of operation were devoted to plasma conditioning of the plasma facing components and diagnostic commissioning. Some limited physics research was also conducted during this period. The investigation of pedestal and boundary physics will be a primary research goal of the first run campaign, including plasma-materials interaction and studies of I-mode in both single and double null discharges. Work on critical ITER research needs, including disruption physics and runaway electron suppression will also be a high priority.

An Ideas Forum is planned for March 5-6 at MIT, during which input from the worldwide fusion community to help plan future research campaigns will be sought.

For more information, contact Earl Marmar marmar@psfc.mit.edu