Swiss Plasma Center

Powering the future with fusion research, today

Interior of the TCV tokamak. © A. Herzog, EPFL

EPFL’s Swiss Plasma Center is one of the world leaders in fusion research.

Fusion is based on the principle that powers the Sun. It has the potential to provide everyone with an abundant, safe and clean source of energy.

Through a rich program of research, linked to different levels of training, we are working to deepen our understanding of plasma physics and propel fusion to the heart of the energy transition.

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Research

We conduct a programme organised in six research lines: Plasma Theory, Basic Plasma Physics, TCV Tokamak Physics, International Collaborations, Superconductivity for Fusion, and Plasma Applications.

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Education

We are 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).

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Job opportunities

Join our dynamic team at SPC, in the stunning Swiss landscapes, where innovation meets inclusivity, all while fostering professional growth and family-friendly support.

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Latest news

© 2025 EPFL / Laboratory for Experimental Museology (EM+)

A new shape to tame fusion's hottest challenge

EPFL

Don’t burn the wall! That phrase sums up one of fusion’s most pressing challenges: protecting reactor walls from the extreme heat of plasma. Physicists at EPFL now report a new approach to address this major obstacle. By altering the magnetic shape inside a tokamak, they have discovered a new form of plasma radiation. This breakthrough could provide a far more reliable way to handle the fusion exhaust power. The research has been recently published in Physical Review Letters and featured in APS Physics Magazine.

from left to right: Dr. Alan Howling, Professor Ivo Furno and Dr. Philippe Guittienne © Nadia Barth / EPFL

A versatile plasma source at the core of tomorrow's innovations

EPFL

For over two decades, Dr. Philippe Guittienne, physicist at the Swiss Plasma Center, has been pushing the boundaries of plasma production. In 2003, he pioneered the resonant network antenna, a novel technology that can overcome the limitations of conventional plasma sources. Today, this innovation paves the way for new applications, particularly in the microelectronics industry, a sector representing a global market worth several trillion francs. He reveals all the details of this breakthrough in a recent book titled Resonant Network Antennas for Radio-Frequency Plasma Sources, co-authored with his colleagues Dr. Alan Howling and Professor Ivo Furno. This impressive 500-page guide, rooted in the principles of open science, serves as a reference for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals looking to design, understand, and use this strategic technology.

Ambrogio Fasoli / © Nicolas Schopfer

"These recognitions highlight the growing respect for fusion"

EPFL

A key figure in fusion research in Switzerland and Europe, physicist and professor at EPFL, Ambrogio Fasoli, was recently inducted into three of the most prestigious scientific circles: the Academia Europaea for Europe, the Accademia dei Lincei for Italy, and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) for Switzerland. This triple recognition not only reflects his important contributions to plasma physics but also his leadership in advancing fusion research. Such a series of distinctions in a single year is no coincidence; it corresponds to a key moment in his career, marked by several major milestones: five years as President of the European Consortium for Fusion Energy (EUROfusion) from 2019 to 2023, his appointment as Programme Manager (CEO) of EUROfusion starting on January 1, 2024, and his nomination, effective January 1, 2025, as Provost of EPFL.

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Summer school – Des atomes aux ordinateurs

Cette semaine prĂ©-universitaire propose aux gymnasiennes et gymnasiens de s’immerger Ă  l’EPFL afin de dĂ©couvrir la programmation scientifique et la modĂ©lisation des matĂ©riaux. Les matĂ©riaux sont au cƓur des…

 23.06.202527.06.2025  

Location:  EPFL (Lausanne)
Category: Sciences Activities for Youth
Target audience: Informed public

The atomic simulation environment ecosystem: Present and perspectives

 23.06.202527.06.2025  

Location:  BCH 2103
Category: Conferences – Seminars
Target audience: Informed public

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New trends and applications around generalized Fokker-Planck operators

 16.06.202511.07.2025   09:0017:00

Speaker: The speakers for the minicourse are: Omar Mohsen (Paris-Saclay University), Francis Nier (Sorbonne University), Tony LeliÚvre (Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées)
Location:  GA 3 21
Category: Conferences – Seminars
Target audience: Informed public

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