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On 16 July 2026, a delegation from the Ministry of Energy visited the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) as part of the quarterly meetings between the Institute’s management and its supervising ministry. The delegation comprised Paweł Gajda, Director of the Nuclear Energy Department; Anna Pogorzelska-Fuz, Deputy Director of the Department; Andrzej Chwas, Head of Unit; and Kamila Goławska, Chief Specialist at the Department.

The visit began with a meeting with the IPPLM management: Dr hab. Monika Kubkowska, Director of IPPLM; Dr hab. Agata Chomiczewska, Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs; and Paweł Nadrowski, Deputy Director for Administration. The discussions covered the Institute’s current situation, progress in the implementation of its research projects, and prospects for the further development of its research capacity.

The programme continued with a tour of the IPPLM laboratories and a presentation of the Institute’s research infrastructure and equipment. The delegation saw the 10 TW femtosecond laser and its associated diagnostic systems at the High Power Laser Laboratory, as well as the PF-1000U facility, one of the world’s largest plasma focus devices. The visitors also toured the Laboratory of Plasma Nudge for Satellites (PlaNS) and the Laboratory of Plasma Research with Spectroscopic Methods.

The visit provided representatives of the Ministry of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Department with first-hand insight into IPPLM’s laboratory infrastructure and technical capabilities supporting the Institute’s research activities. 

Photo: IPPLM

From 13 to 23 June 2026, IPPLM Director Dr hab. Monika Kubkowska, Dr Tomasz Fornal and Dr Łukasz Syrocki took part in a research visit to Japan’s National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), one of the world’s leading centres for plasma physics and fusion research.

NIFS is home to the Large Helical Device (LHD), the world’s largest heliotron-type stellarator. In December 2025, the device completed its final experimental campaign, bringing nearly three decades of research to a close. The experiments conducted on LHD have made a significant contribution to the development of plasma physics and technologies related to controlled nuclear fusion.

The visit provided an opportunity to review the results of the cooperation between IPPLM and NIFS to date and to discuss the next stages of the analysis of experimental data collected during the final LHD campaign.

An important part of the programme was a scientific seminar delivered by Dr Łukasz Syrocki, entitled "Quantitative Analysis of Tungsten Impurities and Zeff in W7-X Plasma Using Spectroscopic Methods and Spectral Modelling". The presentation focused on the quantitative analysis of spectra recorded using the Pulse Height Analyzer (PHA) diagnostic installed on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Germany.

The visit marked another stage in the long-standing scientific cooperation between IPPLM and NIFS. It enabled the teams to plan further joint research activities and exchange knowledge and experience between the two institutions.

Photos: IPPLM

From 25 May to 3 June 2026, researchers from the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) took part in a research visit to the Institute of Plasma Physics and Lasers (IPPL), operating within the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU/ELMEPA) in Greece.

IPPLM was represented by researchers from the Department of Laser Plasma Physics and Dense Magnetised Plasma: Dr Hanna Marchenko, Dr Marcin Rosiński, Dr Przemysław Tchórz, and Dr Agnieszka Zaraś-Szydłowska.

The aim of the visit was to carry out a joint experiment and exchange knowledge and experience in the field of laser-driven ion acceleration. During the research work, advanced ion diagnostics developed at IPPLM were used for online analysis of the ion source at the IPPL laboratory.

The cooperation provided an opportunity to exchange scientific experience and strengthen relations between the research teams of both institutions.

The visit was carried out as part of international cooperation supported by COST Action PROBONO.

Photo: IPPLM

On 14–15 June 2026, the University of Warsaw hosted the 4^th edition of the "Science for Society" Congress, held under the theme "Society for Science". The event brought together representatives of the scientific community and provided a platform for presenting the achievements of Polish universities and research institutes, as well as for discussing the role of science in the development of society, the economy and innovation.

The Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) participated in the Congress as one of the co-organisers. Dr hab. Monika Kubkowska, Director of IPPLM, served as a member of the Scientific Committee, while Dr hab. Agata Chomiczewska, Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs, contributed to the work of the Organising Committee.

One of the items on the programme was a presentation by Dr Jacek Kurzyna entitled "Electric Space Propulsion: Projects Carried Out at the Laboratory of Plasma Nudge for Satellites (PlaNS)". The talk focused on electric propulsion technologies developed at the Laboratory, as well as on research results concerning their efficiency and the physical processes responsible for thrust generation.

During the Congress, IPPLM also presented three posters:

• "Electric Space Propulsion: Projects Carried Out at the Laboratory of Plasma Nudge for Satellites (PlaNS)",
• "LIBS – Chemical Composition Diagnostics for Future Energy Technologies",
• "Contribution of IPPLM Scientists to Nuclear Fusion Research"

On the second day of the Congress, Dr hab. Agata Chomiczewska took part in a panel discussion of directors of research institutes entitled "How, when and where should we promote scientific achievements and research outcomes in Poland?". The discussion addressed the importance of effective science communication and ways of presenting the outcomes of research work to a broad audience.

Visitors to the IPPLM stand had the opportunity to learn about the Institute’s main areas of scientific activity and find out more about nuclear fusion research and technologies being developed for future fusion energy applications. The exhibits presented at the stand included 3D models of the ITER reactor and a stellarator.

In recognition of its involvement in the organisation of the 4^th "Science for Society" Congress and its contribution to the development and promotion of science, the Institute received the "Perspectives of Science" Award in the form of a commemorative statuette. The distinction was presented during the main ceremony of the Congress by Karolina Zioło-Pużuk, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. After the official part of the event, the Ministry representative and Prof. Henryk Skarżyński, Chairman of the Main Council of Research Institutes, visited the stands of the institutions participating in the Congress and presented their representatives with commemorative diplomas.

Recordings from the Congress, including presentations, panel discussions and interviews with guests, are available on the organiser’s website: https://nauka-dla-spoleczenstwa.pl/

Photos: IPPLM

We are pleased to celebrate an important step in international scientific cooperation: the successful delivery of the advanced Divertor Vacuum Ultra Violet (DivVUV) spectrometer system for the JT-60SA tokamak in Naka, Japan.

The delivery of the DivVUV system is the result of several years of international cooperation between research institutions within the EUROfusion consortium. The Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion was also involved in the implementation of the project, providing vacuum hardware and CCD detector cameras.

The DivVUV spectrometer is an advanced diagnostic tool that will be used to monitor plasma impurities and study the physics of the divertor. The divertor is a specially designed part of the tokamak that controls the removal of energy and impurities from the plasma, while being exposed to some of the highest thermal loads in the entire device.

The DivVUV system will enable 1D imaging of the divertor region and will allow researchers to analyse radiation from selected parts of this region in two spectral ranges: 10–48 nm and 44–125 nm. This diagnostic will be of significant importance, among other things, for studies on power exhaust and plasma detachment in the divertor region, which are key issues for future fusion reactors such as ITER.

More information is available in the article on the EUROfusion website: https://euro-fusion.org