Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 12:21

Target container is loaded with 485 discs of SiC with packed length of 17.4cm. 

Container is wrapped with 3 Ta-heat shields and previously coated/sintered with TaC.

Chamber is currently being pumped down

TGHT will be ramped up to 800A, ~1800C, and TBHT is limited to 230A max.

 Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 15:53

HS valves are open, no leaks detected.

TGHT stepped up to 70A, pressure is currently at 4.17e-5 torr and coming up. 

Initiated auto-ramping at 0.5A/min for both TGHT and TBHT: good vac at 3.0e-5, bad vac at 4.0e-5 Torr.

 Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 00:03

Stopped auto-ramping about 2 hours ago.  

Manual stepped up TGHT to 73A.  Vac is stabilizing at 5e-8 Torr.  Will keep it at that current over night.

 Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 07:41

Vac has come down to 3.6e-6 Torr.

Continue to step up TGHT...

 Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 23:52

It has been a super long day operating the evaporator and finally the target is up to 1800C.  Vac is coming down from 2.e-5 Torr. 

TGHT is at 790A/12.61V, DV at 6.60V, TBHT at 230A/3.57V.  Omega temp reader is at 1680C - that's due to the window being coated with SiC, as expected. 

Target will continue heated at that current for over night, and will start the cooling process next AM. 

Thursday, June 25, 2015, 06:18  

Target is holding pretty well over night.  Vac is coming down to 1.6e-6 Torr. 

Initiated cooling down at 2A/min.