Research
Research and development projects of the Swiss Plasma Center are grouped in 6 Research Lines:
Research Lines
TCV Tokamak
The mission of the TCV programme is to apply its highly specialized capabilities (plasma shaping, ECH) to the exploration of the physics of magnetically confined plasmas, partly in direct support of the ITER project but also exploring some of the alternative paths that may be required beyond ITER on the way to a prototype fusion reactor.
Theory and simulations
Plasma is an extremely complex state of matter, characterized by phenomena that occur on a vast range of temporal and spatial scales, which subtle and important ways. The activities in the plasma theory group aim at the understanding of these physical phenomena through analytic theory and computer simulations.
Basic Plasmas
The goal of the SPC Basic Plasma Physics group is to progress in the understanding of fundamental phenomena that occur in magnetized plasmas and that can have an impact in fusion energy research. The main experimental asset of the group is the toroidal device TORPEX.
International collaborations
The Swiss Plasma Center participates to the experimental campaigns carried out at JET, to the construction of ITER, to the preparation of ITER scientific exploitation and to the design of DEMO.
Superconductivity
Our superconductivity activities have two main focuses: testing fusion-device superconductors with the unique SULTAN facility, and developing next-generation technologies through coil design for future installations and high-temperature superconductors
Plasma Processing
For decades, thermal and non-thermal plasmas have been applied across industries, with ongoing R&D worldwide. Key uses include semiconductors, packaging, solar cells, flat screens, and tribology.