Swiss Plasma Center

Plasma in the RAID device

Plasma in the RAID device

Our Mission: shaping the Sun’s energy on Earth

The Swiss Plasma Center is one of the world’s leading fusion research laboratories.

Fusion is based on the principle that powers the Sun and it has the potential to provide a solution to humanity’s energy problem.

Through a wide range of research programs, all connected to education and training at different levels, we work to advance our understanding of the physics of plasmas and develop fusion as an energy source.

Research

Discover our six Research Lines

Research Lines

Education

The Swiss Plasma Center is committed to preparing the next generations of fusion scientists and engineers. We provide education in Physics for students of all levels (Bachelor, Master and Doctoral School) and various sections. We are continuously training around 40 PhD students.

Education
© Carlos Castilla iStock photos

New high-performance computing hub aims to harness the sun's energy

EPFL

EPFL will soon be home to a European hub for high-performance computing focused on fusion power – a potential source of clean, risk-free energy. As part of this effort, EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center will lead a campus-wide, cross-disciplinary research team.

Joaquim Loizu (left), recipient of the 2020 IUPAP Young Scientist Prize in Plasma Physics receiving the award from Minh Quang Tran [Chair, IUPAP Commission C16] © DR

Joaquim Loizu granted the IUPAP 2020 Prize in plasma physics

Research

Joaquim Loizu, a researcher at EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center, is the recipient of IUPAP’s (International Union of pure and applied physics) 2020 Young Scientist Prize in plasma physics. This prize is awarded annually to a young international scientist for outstanding research.

The TCV Tokamak at EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center © A. Herzog / EPFL

Heat loss control method in fusion reactors in Nature Communications

Research

The core of a fusion reactor is incredibly hot. Hydrogen that inevitably escapes from it must be cooled on its way to the wall, as otherwise, the reactor wall would be damaged. Researchers from the Dutch institute DIFFER and EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center have developed a strict measurement and control method for the cooling of very hot particles escaping from fusion plasmas. This milestone for fusion research is published in Nature Communications. 

All news

The last 5 papers of the Swiss Plasma Center

Prototype mitre bends of the ex-vessel waveguide system for the ITER upper launcher: Thermal hydraulic simulations and experiments with off-center mm-wave beams

A. Xydou; T. Goodman; R. Chavan; M. Vagnoni; H. Torreblanca Quiroz et al. 

Fusion Engineering and Design. 2021-03-31. Vol. 170, p. 112457. DOI : 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2021.112457.

Detailed record

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Impact of the new TCV baffled divertor upgrade on pedestal structure and performance

U. Sheikh; M. Dunne; L. Frassinetti; B. Labit; P. Blanchard et al. 

Nuclear Materials and Energy. 2021. Vol. 26, p. 100933. DOI : 10.1016/j.nme.2021.100933.

Detailed record

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Experimental study of extended timescale dynamics of a plasma wakefield driven by a self-modulated proton bunch

J. Chappell; E. Adli; R. Agnello; M. Aladi; Y. Andrebe et al. 

Physical Review Accelerators And Beams. 2021-01-05. Vol. 24, num. 1, p. 011301. DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.24.011301.

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Approaching detachment in I-mode-response of core confinement and the edge pedestal in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

T. Happel; M. L. Reinke; D. Silvagni; M. Bernert; O. Grover et al. 

Nuclear Fusion. 2021-03-01. Vol. 61, num. 3, p. 036026. DOI : 10.1088/1741-4326/abd7b7.

Detailed record

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Neural-network accelerated coupled core-pedestal simulations with self-consistent transport of impurities and compatible with ITER IMAS

O. Meneghini; G. Snoep; B. C. Lyons; J. McClenaghan; C. S. Imai et al. 

Nuclear Fusion. 2021-02-01. Vol. 61, num. 2, p. 026006. DOI : 10.1088/1741-4326/abb918.

Detailed record

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Only 3 seminars at maximum are shown here. The full list is available on the page SPC Memento.