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It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of our friend Dr. Hellmut Schmidt (1935-2024).

Our first contact with Hellmut Schmidt was during the period of his activity in the so-called Steering Committee of the International Centre for Dense Magnetized Plasma, operating at the end of the last century under the auspices of UNESCO, whose goal was to establish an international centre for DMP research. In August 1999, the UNESCO President and the President of the Polish Atomic Energy Agency signed an agreement to establish the International Centre for Dense Magnetized Plasma (ICDMP), which became part of the organizational structure of the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM). In the following years, Hellmut Schmidt became one of the closest collaborators and, one might say, mentors of the Polish ICDMP team. For almost twenty years he was a frequent guest of IPPLM, actively participating in experiments conducted with the Plasma-Focus PF-1000 plasma generator. He also supported us during the organization of regular schools for young science students since 2004 (International Kudowa School "Towards Fusion Energy") and workshops on dense magnetized plasma. Dr. Schmidt also participated in the annual meetings of the ICDMP International Scientific Council, supporting us with his knowledge and scientific authority. He was well-known in our community for his work on the POSEIDON plasma-focus system. The research conducted under his leadership clarified important regularities in neutron emission from PF systems, and the articles describing this research are classic items still cited today.

When we remember Hellmut Schmidt today, we see a man of impeccable manner, calm, competent, open to others, and always ready to help.

We will miss him.

ICDMP meeting, 2017. Dr. Hellmut Schmidt third from left in the front row