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The optimized superconducting stellarator device Wendelstein 7-X (with major radius , minor radius , and plasma volume) restarted operation after the assembly of a graphite heat shield and 10 inertially cooled island divertor modules. This paper reports on the results from the first high-performance plasma operation. Glow discharge conditioning and ECRH conditioning discharges in helium turned out to be important for density and edge radiation control. Plasma densities of with central electron temperatures were routinely achieved with hydrogen gas fueling, frequently terminated by a radiative collapse. In a first stage, plasma densities up to were reached with hydrogen pellet injection and helium gas fueling. Here, the ions are indirectly heated, and at a central density of a temperature of with was transiently accomplished, which corresponds to with a peak diamagnetic energy of and volume-averaged normalized plasma pressure . The routine access to high plasma densities was opened with boronization of the first wall. After boronization, the oxygen impurity content was reduced by a factor of 10, the carbon impurity content by a factor of 5. The reduced (edge) plasma radiation level gives routinely access to higher densities without radiation collapse, e.g. well above line integrated density and central temperatures at moderate ECRH power. Both X2 and O2 mode ECRH schemes were successfully applied. Core turbulence was measured with a phase contrast imaging diagnostic and suppression of turbulence during pellet injection was observed.

The fundamental behavior of the W7-X island divertor under detached conditions, which has been theoretically predicted with the EMC3-Eirene code, is re-examined here under the experimental conditions achieved so far and compared with the first experimental results. Both simulations and experiments cover a range of divertor configurations and plasma parameters, and show the following common trends: (1) with rising impurity radiation, the target heat load decreases ‘uniformly’ over the entire target surface in the sense that both the peak and average heat loads can drop by an order of magnitude. Impurity radiation (mainly from intrinsic carbon) occurs primarily at the plasma edge and the resulting negative impact on the stored energy is less than 10%. (2) When the total radiation exceeds a critical level, the target particle flux (the recycling flux Γrecy) begins to fall and can drop by a factor of 3–5 at high radiation levels without an obvious indication of significant volume recombination. (3) While Γrecy decreases, the divertor neutral pressure continues to build up and reaches a maximum, at which point Γrecy has declined significantly. (4) During detachment, the electron temperature at the last closed flux surface falls in a way that is not quantitatively understandable from parallel classical heat conduction processes. This paper presents a physical explanation of the numerical/experimental results described above. Furthermore, using the EMC3-Eirene code as a diagnostic tool, we are able, apparently for the first time, to provide a full quantitative analysis of each transport channel in the island divertor, aiming to clarify how the island divertor plasma self-regulates to maintain particle, energy, and momentum balance under detached conditions.

We provide the frequency response of a high multipath propagation channel using a narrow beamwidth synthetic aperture measurement technique from 26.5 – 40 GHz.

This paper derives two novel frequency invariant beamformers (FIBs) for use with wideband synthetic aperture channel sounders. Results using measured data show that the choice of beampattern can affect the amount of diffuse multipath energy received through the array sidelobes and influence the estimated channel impulse and frequency responses.

In recent years Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) has become the prime heating system on most fusion machines, due to the availability of gyrotrons and transmission systems as reliable high power microwave sources. The Institute of Pulsed Power and Microwave Heating (IHM) at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is at the center of European efforts in developing such gyrotrons, in collaboration with European industry and other research institutions. Two years ago, KIT has started the construction of a new gyrotron test facility FULGOR (Fusion Long Pulse Laboratory), which should satisfy the demands gyrotron testing poses over the next 2–3 decades. The paper describes the capabilities of FULGOR and the progress made in its construction.

We describe the use of a silicon photodiode trap detector and digital storage oscilloscope as an absolute laser pulse energy meter, capable of repetition rates of 85 Hz and 5% uncertainty (k = 2). The maximum repetition rate is limited by the decay time of the output pulse of the detector. The technique relies on a straightforward oscilloscope-based integration of the voltage pulse generated by the photodiode trap detector. We highlight the versatility of the technique by comparing it at 1064 nm with our high and low-level calorimeter based pulse energy scales, to which our calibration services are traceable. The good agreement of the results, along with comprehensive uncertainty analysis, validates the approach we have taken. We have demonstrated a basis for establishing laser pulse energy measurement using continuous wave (CW) sources and standard detectors.

The cultivation of key donors should be approached broadly, patiently, and carefully. One should involve a number of individuals, groups, and activities over a long but indefinite period. Important constituents include library advisory boards, past donors, and your advancement office. These constituents, along with meetings and cultural events, all go into the mix that forms the basis of an effective donor program.

A 10 MW, 140 GHz ECH system is currently under construction for the stellarator W7-X. The RF power will be provided by 10 gyrotrons. A European collaboration has been established to develop and build 9 (out of 10) tubes each with an output power of 1 MW for continuous wave (CW) operation. This contribution reports on recent results with the series gyrotrons.

Endogenous triglyceride turnover has been measured in patients with normotriglyceridemia or with hypertriglyceridemia using the radioglycerol labelling technique. In parallel, a 50 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed (blood glucose, serum insulin, free fatty acids). Non-diabetics, borderline diabetics, and overt diabetics were included. In the non-diabetics, insulin levels were negatively correlated with fractional catabolic rates for triglycerides, whereas no correlation with triglyceride synthesis rates existed. Patients with low fractional catabolic rates for triglycerides have significantly higher insulin and free fatty acid concentrations, pointing to an association between impairment of triglyceride removal and insulin resistance. There is no typical kinetic pattern of triglyceride metabolism in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is frequently associated with an increased fat mass and an altered fat distribution. The adipocyte derived hormone, leptin has been shown to interact with insulin at various levels and may be intimately involved in this process. However, only limited data concerning the interaction of insulin, glucose tolerance and leptin are available and no data exist on the potential influence of bound vs. free circulating leptin. We therefore studied free and bound leptin in 136 patients (77 males, 59 females) with IGT, in relation to plasma glucose, insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide levels as well as serum free and bound leptin concentrations during an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT). The expected positive relation of free serum leptin levels with body mass index (BMI) was found. Free leptin concentrations were higher in women than in men. Analysis in tertiles revealed a significant relation between free leptin (16-58, 60-160, and 169-932 pmol/ 1) and mean fasting insulin levels (65, 93, and 100 pmol/l). This relationship remained significant in a multiple regression analysis with BMI and gender as covariates. Similar independent relationships to leptin serum levels were observed for HbAlc and plasma C peptide levels and the proinsulin/insulin ratio but not for plasma glucose and proinsulin levels. These data suggest a fine tuning of leptin by small changes in circulating insulin levels observed in impaired glucose tolerance.

To evaluate the potential of autoimmune markers in identifying patients with slowly progressive IDDM in the prediabetic state, we screened a population of 151 patients aged 37-70 years with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) for the presence of islet cell antibodies (ICA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA), antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), and antibodies to tyrosine phosphatase IA-2 (IA-2A). Autoantibodies were found in 5 (3.3%) patients with IGT suggesting the presence of an autoimmune-mediated beta cell destruction. All of them were positive for high level ICA (20 JDF-U) and 1 ICA positive subject had additional GADA (100 GADA-U). In contrast, none of the subjects had IA-2A or IAA. We here demonstrate a low prevalence of autoimmune diabetes among middle-aged subjects with IGT. ICA and GADA but not IA-2A or IAA may represent autoimmune markers for slowly progressive IDDM before the manifestation of the disease.

The ITER electron cyclotron upper port launching system has to provide local current drive in order to stabilize neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs) and the sawtooth instability. The mm-wave system is embedded in a rigid upper port plug structure optimized for the rough operating conditions. During regular operation the structure is heated by neutrons and photons which are simulated by the Monte-Carlo method. The structural system has to provide sufficient cooling especially in the front part where high heat loads occur. If the active plasma stabilization fails the worst case scenario for the upper port plugs is the upward vertical displacement event (VDE) followed by a fast current quench. The fast plasma disruption occurs close to the plugs; eddy currents are induced and interact with the strong static magnetic field. The resulting mechanical forces and torque moments stress the structural system to its physical limits; a detailed numerical analysis, prototype crosschecks and design optimization is required to obtain a working system for ITER. Numerical structural, thermal and fluid dynamic analyses are presented as well as prototype tests and finally the effect of plasma disruptions on the structural design is discussed.

Background We analyzed the efficacy and possible synergistic actions of pioglitazone and simvastatin monotherapy versus their combination on LDL subfractions from a subpopulation from the PIOSTAT three-arm randomized controlled trial. PPARγ agonists, such as pioglitazone, improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control and appear to lower the concentration of atherogenic small dense LDL particles. Insulin resistance frequently occurs in non-diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease. Statins, such as simvastatin, reduce cardiovascular events by lowering LDL-C. So far, only scarce information exists for comparative efficacy and possible synergistic effects of combination therapy on LDL subfractions, cholesterol particle load, and particle number of atherogenic small dense LDL. Methods 125 non-diabetic patients with high cardiovascular risk were randomized to therapy with pioglitazone 45 mg/day, simvastatin 40 mg/day, or the combination of both, for 12 weeks. In the present sub-study, LDL subfractions from 88 patients were separated by very-fast ultracentrifugation. Results Simvastatin monotherapy significantly reduced cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in IDL, LDL1, and LDL2. The lipid concentrations and lipid loads in LDL3 remained unchanged. By contrast, treatment with pioglitazone reduced the cholesterol concentration in LDL3 (density 1.040–1.066 kg/l) from 0.38 to 0.31 mmol/l ( p = 0.0004) and of the cholesterol load per particle from 1058 to 934 mol/mol ( p = 0.0149). Even greater reductions of cholesterol in LDL3 were observed with the combination of pioglitazone and simvastatin: from 0.38 to 0.29 mmol/l ( p = 0.0006) and from 1021 to 903 mol/mol ( p = 0.0011), respectively. In addition, combination therapy reduced the particle number of LDL3 from 356 to 316 nmol/l ( p = 0.0074). Conclusions Simvastatin preferentially lowered LDL1 and LDL2 subfractions, whereas pioglitazone reduced LDL3 cholesterol and cholesterol load. In addition, the combination reduced the LDL3 particle number. Thus, our data suggest a synergistic action of pioglitazone and simvastatin on atherogenicity of small dense LDL particles.

During the last years, electron cyclotron heating (ECH) was proven to be one of the most attractive heating schemes for stellarators because it provides net-current-free plasma startup and heating. Both the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), which is under construction at the Max-Planck-Institut fu umlr Plasmaphysik, Greifswald, Germany, and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) tokamak, which will be built in Cadarache, France, will be equipped with a strong ECH and current-drive system. Both systems are comparable in frequency and have continuous-wave capability (140 GHz, 10 MW for W7-X and 170 GHz, 24 MW for ITER). The commissioning of the ECH plant for W7-X is well underway; the status of the project and the first integrated full-power test results from two modules are reported and may provide valuable input for the ITER plant. The ten gyrotrons at W7-X will be arranged in two subgroups symmetrically to a central beam duct in the ECH hall. The RF wave of each subgroup will be combined and transmitted by a purely optical multibeam-waveguide (MBWG) transmission line from the gyrotrons to the torus. The combination of five 1 MW gyrotron beams to one beam line with a power of 5 MW reduces the complexity of the system considerably. The single- and MBWG mirrors and the polarizers have been manufactured. Cold tests of a full-size uncooled prototype line delivered an efficiency exceeding 90%. The microwave power will be launched to the plasma through ten chemical-vapor-deposited-diamond barrier windows and in-vessel quasi-optical plug-in launchers, allowing each 1-MW RF beam to be steered independently. The polarization, as well as the poloidal and toroidal launch angles, will be adjusted individually to provide optimum conditions for different heating and current-drive scenarios.

Electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) has proven to be one of the most attractive heating schemes for stellarators. Therefore, ECRH was chosen to be the main heating method for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator (W7-X) now under construction at IPP Greifswald, Germany. A 10 MW ECRH system with continuous wave (CW) possibilities, operating at 140 GHz will be built up to meet the scientific goals of the stellarator. Two prototype gyrotrons with an output power of I MW were developed in collaboration between European research laboratories and European industry (Thales Electron Devices, France). The gyrotrons are equipped with a single-stage depressed collector, an optimised quasi-optical mode converter and a CVD-diamond window. The prototypes have been successfully tested at FZK. With the second one, an output power of 0.89 MW at a pulse duration of 3 min and an output power of 0.54 MW for about 15 min have been obtained. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The stellarator W7-X, which is currently under construction at IPP Greifswald, Germany, will be equipped with a 10 MW ECRH system working at 140 GHz in CW regime. The microwave power will be generated by 10 gyrotrons delivering 1 MW each and will be transmitted from the gyrotron hall to the W7-X stellarator ports via a fully optical system. The status of the construction of the transmission lines and the design of the launchers is reported. Low-power tests of a prototype system at IPF Stuttgart are reviewed. Now, the first two gyrotrons are operating at IPP Greifswald, and high-power long-pulse tests have started. Measurements on transmission performance, behaviour of the water-cooled mirrors under thermal and microwave loads as well as alignment issues, characteristics of directional couplers, calorimetric loads, and other diagnostics are discussed.

Glucagon is the physiological antagonist of insulin. Postprandial (pp) hyperglycemia in impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may also depend on irregularities in glucagon secretion. This study investigated the glucagon excursion after a lipid-glucose-protein tolerance test in subjects with different stages of glucose intolerance. We also analyzed the relationship between pp glucagon secretion and hyperglycemias. A total of 64 men (27 healthy subjects with normal glucose tolerance [NGT], 15 with IGT, and 22 with T2DM) were examined. Plasma glucose (PG), insulin, proinsulin, free fatty acids, and triglycerides were measured in the fasting state and at 30 minutes and 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours after the intake of the test meal, which contained 126 g carbohydrates, 92 g fat, and 17 g protein. Postprandial concentrations of metabolic parameters were calculated as area under the curve (AUC). Glucagon was measured in the fasting state and at 30 minutes and 2 and 4 hours pp. Early glucagon increment was defined as glucagon at 30 minutes minus fasting glucagon. The insulin response was quantified as insulin increment divided by PG increment in the corresponding time. Insulin resistance was calculated using lomeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Fasting glucagon was significantly increased in IGT vs NGT (P

A 2 MW, CW, 170 GHz coaxial cavity gyrotron is under development in cooperation between European Research Institutions (FZK Karlsruhe, CRPP Lausanne, HUT Helsinki) and the European tube industry (TED, Velizy, France). The design of critical components has recently been examined experimentally at FZK Karlsruhe with a short pulse (~ few ms) coaxial cavity gyrotron. This gyrotron uses the same cavity and the same quasi- optical (q.o.) RF-output system as designed for the industrial prototype and a very similar electron gun.

Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH) is the main heating method for the Wendelstein 7-X Stellarator (W7-X), which is under construction at IPP-Greifswald. A 10 MW ECRH plant with CW-capability at 140 GHz is under construction to meet the scientific objectives. The microwave power is generated by 10 gyrotrons with 1 MW each two gyrotrons are operational at IPP in Greifswald. The tubes are equipped with a single-stage depressed collector for energy recovery and operate with an output power modulation between 0.3 and 1 MW with a sinusoidal frequency of up to 10 kHz which is achieved by modulating the depression voltage and is an interesting feature for NTM control at ITER. The general features of the ECRH-plant such as frequency power, cw-capability, flexibility and the experimental experience are of high relevance for the ITER system. Each gyrotron is fed by two high-voltage sources. A high-power supply for driving the electron beam and a precision low-power supply for beam acceleration. The high-power facility consists of modular solid state HV-supplies (−65 kV 50/100 A) providing fast power control and high flexibility. The low-power high-voltage source for beam acceleration is realized by a feed back controlled high-voltage servo-amplifier driving the depression voltage. A protection system with a thyratron crowbar for fast power removal in case of gyrotron failure by arcing is installed. Both the high power and low-power high-voltage sources have the capability to supply a 2 MW ITER gyrotron without any modification. Analogue electronic devices control the fast functions of the high-voltage system for each gyrotron and a hierarchy of industrial standard PLCs and computers supervise the whole ECRH-plant.

The feasibility of manufacturing a 2-MW CW coaxial cavity gyrotron at 170 GHz has been demonstrated and data required for fabrication of an industrial tube have been obtained. An engineering design of a prototype started recently with the goal to provide gyrotrons with 2-MW microwave output power for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The design of critical components of the prototype tube as electron gun, cavity and RF output system will be verified under realistic conditions at short pulses using the experimental coaxial gyrotron at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe.

Summary form only given, as follows. Electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) has proven during the last few years to be one of the most attractive heating schemes for stellarators, as it provides net current free plasma start tip and heating. Extensive measurements on stellarators at IPP Garching provide a solid physical and technological basis for ECRH systems. Therefore, ECRH will be the main heating method for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator (W7-X) now under construction at Greifswald / Germany. A 10 MW ECRH system with continuous wave (CW) possibilities operating at 140 GHz will be built to meet the scientific goals of the stellarator at Greifswald with inherent steady-state capability at reactor relevant plasma parameters. A prototype gyrotron with an output power of 1 MW was developed in collaboration between European research laboratories, and European industries. The gyrotron is equipped with a single stage depressed collector for increasing the efficiency, an optimized quasi-optical mode converter and a CVD-diamond window. The prototype gyrotron has been successfully tested with an output power of 0.89 MW at a pulse duration of three minutes and all output power of 0.54 MW for about 15 minutes. The specified value of Gaussian beam output power exceeding 0.9 MW has been obtained for about 1 minute. Further results will be given.

For the future stellarator W7-X in Greifswald, a powerful electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system at 140 GHz with a total RF power of 10 MW CW is under construction. The transmission of the radiation from the gyrotron hall to the machine will be realized via a fully optical system consisting of more than 160 water cooled mirrors. This paper describes the design of the mirrors and presents results of calculations of the thermo–mechanical properties. Experimental verification of the calculations showed that mirror deformation under application of a heat load equivalent to the absorbed power from a 1 MW mm-wave beam is in the tolerable range. Water cooled mirrors of the single-beam type have been used successfully during conditioning of a prototype gyrotron with a mm-wave power of 850 kW and a pulse length of up to 180 s. To test and optimize in-situ measurements of beam parameters and power of the CW ECRH system on W7-X, these mirrors are equipped with different diagnostics.

In current tokamaks and, in particular, in future larger devices such as ITER, the control of neo-classical tearing modes (NTM) is essential for achieving high performance in terms of the beta limit. A commonly used scheme for NTM stabilization consists in driving a helical current at the resonance surface of interest with electron-cyclotron-current-drive. Depending on the ratio between the magnetic island size and the RF beam width, complete stabilization of the NTM will only be achieved with deep RF power modulation in phase with the mode. In the frame of the European development program of high power sources for ECRH applications between Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, IPP Garching/Greifswald, EPFL Lausanne, IPF Stuttgart, CEA Cadarache and Thales Electron Devices, the modulation capabilities of the 140 GHz/1 MW gyrotron have been experimentally investigated. RF-power modulation depths higher than 80% at a frequency of 50 kHz with cathode modulation and 1.5 kHz with depression voltage modulation have been obtained. The limitations in frequency were given by the corresponding power supplies and not by the gyrotron itself. Detailed analysis of the collector loading with respect to the modulation scheme will be presented and the intrinsic gyrotron limitations for long-pulse operation with deep modulation will be discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.