The 18th Kudowa Summer School "Towards Fusion Energy", organised every two years by the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) and the National Contact Point EURATOM-FUSION, has come to a successful close.
This year's edition also included students working on proton-boron fusion, whose participation was supported by the COST Action 21128 PROton BOron Nuclear fusion: from energy production to medical applicatiOns (PROBONO).
The School was directed by Jef Ongena, while the scientific programme was overseen by the Scientific Committee: Agata Chomiczewska, Daniele Margarone, Katarzyna Batani, and Tomasz Chodukowski. The Local Organizing Committee, chaired by Agnieszka Jardin, included Dorota Błoniarz-Łuczak, Ioannis Fitilis, Natalia Grzybicka, Krzysztof Król, and Jakub Włodarczyk.
The School brought together 35 participants affiliated with institutions in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. A total of 22 topical lectures were delivered by experts in the field, covering basic plasma physics and fusion energy, laser plasma physics, magnetic and inertial confinement fusion, tokamaks, stellarators and Z-pinches, proton-boron fusion and its applications, plasma diagnostics and technology, as well as space plasma. Once again, the Kudowa Summer School provided a unique forum for young researchers and leading experts to exchange ideas, establish new collaborations, and strengthen the international fusion community.
 |
An important part of this year's programme was a visit to the ELI Beamlines Facility. Students also took part in hands-on activities, including scientific data visualisation with a real 3D simulation, an introduction to Fourier optics in advanced laser systems, 3D printing, and target density measurements related to fusion research.
During the School, students gave 12-minute presentations on their research topics and results. The following presentations were recognised for their quality and clear delivery:
1st place:
- Patryk Nowak vel Nowakowski, "Analysis of the optically attenuated Photomultiplier Tube signal using a coincidence detector"
2nd place (ex aequo):
- Giulia Maria Falciglia, "Ion Diagnostic Methods for the Investigation of the p-11B Nuclear Fusion Reaction"
- Natalia Grzybicka, "Strategies for mitigating power exhaust in tokamaks"
- Matteo Iaccarino, "Advanced Nanofoam based double layer target for laser-plasma interaction"
- Christos Karvounis, "2D MHD simulations of a miniature Plasma Focus Machine"
Outstanding contribution award:
- Axel Jardin, "Developing tomography methods for plasma radiation analysis in tokamaks"
 |
We sincerely thank our sponsors – LTB Lasertechnik Berlin GmbH, Quantum Design GmbH, and PRECOPTIC – for their support. We are also grateful to Hotel Kudowa and Villa Antica in Kudowa-Zdrój for their hospitality and for providing excellent conditions for both the scientific programme and the social activities of the School.
We are already looking forward to the next edition in two years and warmly invite future participants to join us when the next call opens.
 |
Photos: IPPLM
