We are extremely sorry to inform that Professor Vladimir Gribkov (1944-2020) passed away.

The collaboration of Prof. Gribkov with the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion began in the late 1990s. Thanks to his assistance, it was possible to launch the large PF-1000 plasma generator, which was built in the IPPLM, with full energy of 1 MJ. In this difficult period, he got involved in the preparation of several sets of electrodes in Russia and supported the Institute’s team with his extensive knowledge and experience.

In 1997, Prof. Gribkov initiated the participation of the IPPLM team in international scientific programs, preparing an application for the 6th EU Framework Program under the INCO-COPERNICUS project. Our team's involvement in material research for the needs of nuclear fusion, implemented through Plasma-Focus systems, whose Prof. Gribkov was the informal coordinator and leader, dates back from this Project.

We remember with great nostalgia another joint activities in which Prof. Gribkov played a key role: NATO Project (Science for PEACE), projects under the IAEA CRP programs, establishing the Plasma-Focus laboratory at the ICTP Trieste, joint organization of workshops at the ICTP and Kudowa Zdrój, construction of PF -6 for application tests according to Professor’s project and many others.

Prof. Gribkov was the initiator of establishing the International Centre for Dense Magnetised Plasmas (ICDMP), actively participated in all activities related to this purpose.

He was a man of many talents - not only an outstanding physicist but also an erudite in the field of literature, poetry, and music.

He was a good and kind man. We were lucky that he was among us ...