The MAST engineering break was completed successfully and restart activities are underway. Installation of the new ELM control coils was completed in November, one month ahead of schedule, and installation of the second PINI (neutral beam injector) was completed on schedule in January. Following vessel pump-down, high temperature baking was completed on 15th February. Electrical tests and commissioning activities are now being carried out. The physics programme is expected to begin in May with full performance operation from the end of July.
Preparation of diagnostics for plasma operation is well-advanced. The 2008 campaign will benefit from a new multi-chord Motional Stark Effect (MSE) system which will provide information on the plasma current profile. The new MSE system was successfully installed and tested in March (on schedule).
Operation of the improved remote participation facilities in the refurbished MAST control room was successfully demonstrated in March in collaboration with York University. The new system allows both point-to-point and multi-way communication.
The major upgrade to the MAST Thomson scattering system, partly financed by York University, is progressing at great pace. The new lasers and many other components have already been delivered.
Preparations for installation of a higher power, longer pulse, 28GHz gyrotron, on loan from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), U.S.A., are going well. The new magnet power supplies have been delivered and Julian Hawes of the MAST team visited ORNL on 3 – 4th April to witness the gyrotron tests.
The 5th MAST Research Forum was held on 13 -14 February in the John Adams Lecture Theatre at Culham Science Centre. Results from the 2007 campaign were presented and plans for 2008 were discussed. Many collaborators from UK universities and international fusion research centres attended the forum or participated via video conferencing.
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