Alcator—the high‐field toroidal plasma experiment at MIT—has achieved very successful operating conditions since last summer. Its plasma density is the highest of any Tokamak‐like plasma‐containment device, and its Lawson number (product of density and containment time) is competitive for the high ion temperatures at which it runs (see box). Several unique features of this device are its high current density and the wide ranges of such parameters as density and plasma current. Alcator's staff is all the more pleased because the project had initially been making a slow start.