It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the passing of Professor Jerzy Wołowski (1936–2025) an outstanding physicist, long-time employee of the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, mentor, and friend.

Jerzy Wołowski was born in 1936 in Lubicz near Toruń. He graduated from the University of Warsaw in 1960, defending his master’s thesis in nuclear spectroscopy. In 1967 he received his PhD in physics, also at the University of Warsaw, on the basis of research in nuclear physics carried out at the Institute of Physics, UW. From 1961 to 1969 he worked at the Military University of Technology, first as an assistant and later as an adjunct, teaching physics to WAT students. Between 1969 and 1975, Dr Wołowski was involved in establishing the new Nuclear Physics Group at WAT and led research on laser–plasma interactions, already achieving results of international significance.

From 1976 he worked at the newly established Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, formed by merging four groups previously operating at WAT. As head of a laboratory, later a department, and deputy director for research, he focused on plasma physics generated by lasers and selected aspects of laser-driven thermonuclear fusion.

In 1991 he earned his habilitation degree after defending a dissertation on anomalous effects in laser plasmas. He led numerous national and international research projects and supervised many doctoral students. In 2014 he was awarded the title of professor. Three years later, the President of the Republic of Poland honoured him with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding achievements in scientific research and teaching, for the promotion of science, for supporting the development of Polish entrepreneurship, and for his distinguished service to the state and society.

Professor Wołowski was the author or co-author of over 190 papers in leading scientific journals and more than 200 conference contributions. He co-organised international conferences and was a member of several scientific organisations and committees.

We will remember him as an eminent scholar, a kind teacher and colleague, who left a lasting mark on the development of Polish research in the field of laser microfusion.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Professor Wołowski.

The management and staff
of the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion