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 medium, characterized by phenomena that occur on a extremely wide range of temporal and spatial scales, which are all nonlinearly coupled. Plasma theory activities aim at the understanding of these physical phenomena mainly through first principle based 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. It also aims at providing a natural link between tokamak research and developments in plasma theory, by offering an optimal environment for the validation of theoretical and numerical models. 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
Activities in superconductivity are twofold. On the one hand, the group carries tests of superconductors with the SULTAN device, the only installation worldwide capable of testing the superconductors used in fusion devices like ITER. On the other hand, it participates to the design of superconducting coils for future installations such as DEMO as well as develops high temperature superconductors.
Plasma Processing
For several decades thermal and non-thermal plasmas have found application in various industries and research and development continues unabated in almost all industrialized countries. Application of plasmas in industry cover important technologies and markets such as semiconductor manufacturing, packing industry, solar cell production, flat screen display manufacturing and tribology.