Dr. Christian Perez von Thun of the Department of the Thermonuclear Plasma Research at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion has become a member of the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) group in the area of Pedestal & Edge Physics. This decision was announced on 12 December 2024 at the EUROfusion governing board meeting. Christian Perez von Thun will be a member of the group from January 2025 till December 2030.

ITPA is an international fusion research organisation. Its activities focus on experimental tokamak magnetic confinement plasma fusion devices. The organisation supports projects such as ITER and other fusion programmes by providing key data for the design and optimisation of future fusion reactors. ITPA's structure includes a Coordinating Committee and thematic groups that bring together scientists from different countries to provide a platform for international collaboration.

The Pedestal & Edge Physics group, joined by Dr. Perez von Thun, studies the processes occurring at the edges of the plasma in fusion reactors - where the hot interior of the plasma meets its cooler outer layer. This research is crucial to maintaining plasma stability, controlling plasma edge phenomena such as ELM (Edge Localized Mode) modifications, and ensuring efficient heat and particle removal. Working with researchers from around the world, the group is developing solutions that will allow experimental ITER reactor under construction in the south of France to operate safely and efficiently, bringing us closer to obtaining clean and limitless energy from nuclear fusion.

Przemysław Tchórz from the Department of Laser Plasma Physics and Applications at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion was appointed as part of the competition as co-Leader of the WG2 working group: Experiments: Proton boron and Towards the practical realization of compact laser-driven α-particle sources in the international COST Action PROBONO project - "Proton Boron Nuclear Fusion: From Energy Production To Medical Applications (ProBoNo)".

Cooperation and development of experimental research

WG2: Experiments focuses on experimental research on proton-boron (pB) fusion, a nuclear fusion process in which a proton (hydrogen nucleus) reacts with a boron nucleus, leading to the formation of alpha particles (helium nuclei) and the release of large amounts of energy. PB fusion is considered as an interesting alternative to the currently most frequently considered deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion scenario since it does not generate neutrons and, therefore, does not lead to the generation of radioactive waste. Due to the high plasma temperatures required to induce this reaction, pB fusion is difficult to achieve in tokamak devices that rely on magnetic confinement of the plasma. In the case of a direct collision of these two particles, the proton energy requirements are, in turn, easily achievable during the laser ion acceleration process, which makes it an area of ​​intensive scientific research using high-power laser systems.

Przemysław Tchórz, as co-Leader, will support the implementation of the main goals of the group, such as the coordination of experiments conducted in international laser laboratories, including the preparation and implementation of the first project as Principal Investigator titled "Hybrid laser-induced proton-boron fusion using nanosecond laser system: benchmark of an approach employing protons produced during thermonuclear D(d,p)T reaction", using the L4n laser system at the ELI Beamlines facility (Czech Republic) in spring 2025. Researchers from ten leading European institutions currently dealing with proton-boron fusion are involved in this experiment, which will consolidate interdisciplinary cooperation between these institutions and significantly intensify progress in the work carried out in this field and in building the research network centered around COST Action PROBONO.

COST Action PROBONO – proton-boron fusion research network

COST Action PROBONO is an initiative aimed at understanding pB fusion at an experimental and theoretical level. This project enables the exchange of knowledge between research centres, establishing new cooperation and strengthening the existing one between groups with the highest competences in this topic, as well as participation in experimental campaigns, organization of trainings, conferences and summer schools for young researchers. The WG2 group plays a key role in implementing experimental research programs and building a scientific community focused on the topic of pB fusion.

A new role in an international project

Przemysław Tchórz's new role in the CORE Group of the PROBONO project is recognition of his experience and contribution to laser fusion research. Congratulations on your new position and we wish you success in your research.

Photo 1 - ELI Beamlines (Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic), experimental chamber in the E3 experimental hall next to the L4n laser system.
Photo 2 - Lecture by Przemysław Tchórz during the 4^th International Workshop on Proton-Boron Fusion, 30/09 - 3/10/2024, Frascati, Italy.
Photo 3 - ELI Beamlines (Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic), ELIMED research system at the L3 laser system.

Photos: IPPLM

The Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) has been involved in helping the charges of the Rehabilitation, Education and Care Center TPD "Helenów” in Warsaw for years. In 2024, the Institute's support was unique thanks to a combination of traditional initiatives with new activities for children and youth from the Centre.

On 16 December, a group of students and their caretakers visited the IPPLM at the invitation of the Employees’ Council. The researchers prepared fascinating scientific shows for them, which introduced the secrets of nuclear fusion and the applications of lasers. Children could see, among others:

• an impressive glow discharge, presenting the basic properties of plasma,
• operation of the fusor – a device for electrostatic plasma retention,
• experiments with the application of lasers in which students actively participated.

After the shows, there was a Christmas fair of ornaments and decorations made by the children from "Helenów".

From 2 to 11 December, the Institute collected funds. Donations could be made both on site and online. The funds raised allowed for the purchase of Christmas gifts, including clothes, gift cards, hygiene products and sweets. On 19 December, the Employees’ Council handed them over to the children. The joint involvement of the IPPLM employees brought a lot of joy and smiles to the Centre’s charges.

Photo: IPPLM

IPPLM Prof. Agata Chomiczewska and Dr. Natalia Wendler from the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) will give a lecture entitled "Nuclear fusion - breakthrough research results that can change the future of energy" during the 8th Silesian Science Festival in Katowice.

The Festival will take place on December 7-9 at the International Congress Centre in Katowice and will be the culmination of the entire year of celebrations of awarding Katowice the title of European City of Science 2024. Participants of the event will have as many as 20 thematic stages and nearly 1,000 scientific activities, including lectures, workshops and shows.

Prof. Chomiczewska and Dr. Wendler will perform on Sunday, December 8, at 2:55 p.m. in the Conference Room - Science Corner Stage: room no. 6.

Both speakers are outstanding specialists in the field of nuclear fusion, actively participating in international research and events popularizing science. They are part of an international team of researchers who have achieved a breakthrough in nuclear fusion in recent years by experimenting on the world's largest tokamak JET in the UK, setting a world energy record.

Prof. Agata Chomiczewska - habilitated doctor of physical sciences, professor at the IPPLM, head of the Department of Thermonuclear Plasma Research and the Laboratory of Plasma Research Using Spectroscopic Methods at the IPPLM.

The main areas of her research include thermonuclear fusion, with particular emphasis on the study of plasma impurities using spectroscopic methods in systems with magnetic confinement of plasma. Since 2016, she has been the national coordinator of research on European experimental tokamak thermonuclear devices located in Great Britain, Switzerland, France, Germany and Japan. Since 2024, she has been a member of the project board of the Fusion Science Department program operating as part of the EUROfusion consortium.

Prof. Chomiczewska is the author or co-author of over 200 scientific publications. She also actively participates in the organization of international scientific conferences and events popularizing issues related to thermonuclear fusion.

Dr. Natalia Wendler – engineer, doctor of physical sciences, assistant professor at the Department of Fusion Plasma Research at the IPPLM, science populariser.

From the beginning of her professional career, as part of the EUROfusion consortium, she has been involved in research mainly related to plasma impurities on many international experimental devices, such as the JET tokamak (Joint European Torus) in England, ASDEX Upgrade (Axially Symmetric Divertor Experiment) in Germany, TCV (Tokamak à configuration variable) in Switzerland, the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany or LHD (The Large Helical Device) in Japan.

Dr. Wendler is the author or co-author of almost 100 research publications. In addition to her research activities, she is involved in the popularization of science by conducting workshops, giving lectures and participating in various events and science festivals.

Program of the Silesian Science Festival: https://slaskifestiwalnauki.pl/program

For more information please visit: Śląski Festiwal Nauki Katowice

Source: Śląski Festiwal Nauki Katowice

Photos and graphic materials: IPPLM, Silesian Science Festival in Katowice

The team of the researchers from the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) has carried out a significant modernization of the PHA (pulse-height analyser) diagnostics, which is currently actively used on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator as part of the OP.2.2 campaign, launched on 10 September 2024.

The PHA system, designed, manufactured and programmed by the researchers from the IPPLM, enables the analysis of the spectra of X-ray radiation emitted from the plasma, which allows determining the ionic composition of the plasma, the average effective charge of the plasma, etc. During the modernization, the old detectors were replaced with new ones with better characteristics, which significantly improved the quality of measurements. The faulty filter change system was also dismantled and replaced with permanent filters, and the software and operating parameters of the entire system were optimized and adapted to the new conditions. The modernization works were carried out by: Marta Gruca, Jacek Kaczmarczyk, Leszek Ryć, Maciej Szymański, Adam Arkuszewski and Sławomir Jabłoński, head of the Stellarator Plasma Research Laboratory. Diagnostics operators delegated from the IPPLM are Tomasz Fornal and Łukasz Syrocki.

The Wendelstein 7-X facility, located at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald, Germany, is the world's largest experimental stellarator fusion reactor. The purpose of the research system launched in 2015 is to analyse an alternative concept of magnetic confinement of plasma to the tokamak. Research on the device is carried out by an international team of researchers from many institutes around the world, including the IPPLM.

In February 2023, at the end of the OP2.1 campaign, plasma with record parameters was obtained on the stellarator - the discharge lasted 8 minutes and the output power obtained was 1.3 GJ. Between April 2023 and September 2024, conservation and modernization works were carried out on W7-X, including a review of nearly 50 diagnostic systems.

The researchers from the IPPLM have been involved in the work on the stellarator from the very beginning. In addition to PHA diagnostics, a system for monitoring light plasma contaminants, such as oxygen or carbon, will also be launched on W7-X from 2024, which is a joint achievement of the IPPLM and the University of Opole.

Photos: IPPLM researchers with the PHA diagnostics. © IPPLM