All SPC news

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

Published:14.03.25 — 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.

"These recognitions highlight the growing respect for fusion"

Published:07.01.25 — 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.

Exploring the mysteries of trapped electrons: the T-REX Experiment

Published:17.09.24 — At the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), an intriguing experiment is unfolding that could change the future of fusion energy. It's called the TRapped Electrons eXperiment, or T-REX, and its day-to-day operations and research are driven by a passionate and multi-talented scientist, Dr. Francesco Romano.

"I am a strong believer in the collaborative nature of research"

Published:10.09.24 — Ralf Mackenbach, a postdoctoral researcher at the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), has been awarded the prestigious Rubicon Grant by the Dutch Research Council for his research at SPC. This two-year grant, beginning in September 2024, will allow him to test new plasma forms using the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV) fusion device at EPFL, and apply an interesting model developed during his Ph.D.

"I have always been fascinated by complicated subjects"

Published:01.07.24 — Baptiste Frei has been awarded the 2024 PhD Research Prize by the Plasma Physics Division of the European Physical Society (EPS) for the excellence of his thesis at EPFL's Swiss Plasma Center. This award underlines Baptiste Frei's exceptional contributions to the field of plasma fusion and marks an important milestone in his scientific career. After completing his PhD at the Swiss Plasma Center, under the supervision of Paolo Ricci, he has now joined the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Germany, where he works as a postdoctoral researcher in the Tokamak Theory Group. His focus lies in conducting edge turbulence simulations using high-performance computing codes.

"Our priority remains excellence"

Published:10.06.24 — Since June 1, 2024, Paolo Ricci has succeeded Ambrogio Fasoli as Director of the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC). For several years, he has also held the SPC Chair of Theory while teaching physics at EPFL, a passion which has earned him numerous teaching awards. With a career spanning 18 years at the Swiss Plasma Center, he now heads one of the most prestigious plasma physics research laboratories in Europe.

Three emerging voices recognized by the Physics of Plasmas journal

Published:13.05.24 — Kyungtak Lim, Pedro Molina Cabrera and Haomin Sun, two postdoctoral researchers and a PhD student at EPFL's Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), have been selected for the Physics of Plasmas Journal's 2023 Early Career collection. This prestigious recognition, which highlights emerging voices in plasma physics, also gives them the opportunity to showcase the collaborative environment at the SPC that fosters high-level research in their field.

Turning water into green disinfectant

Published:07.05.24 — Imagine sterilizing kitchen surfaces and hospital instruments, washing fruits and vegetables, sanitizing hands, or rinsing mouths—all achievable with a single eco-friendly solution: Plasma-activated water (PAW). Rita Agus, a PhD student at the Swiss Plasma Center, is deeply engaged in this research involving PAW, which promises to solve microbial issues without resorting to traditional methods involving heat or chemicals. Recently, she published a paper in the renowned Chemical Engineering Journal, introducing a portable PAW reactor for academic research, a high-tech tool that could not only transform water, but also our everyday hygiene practices.

Prof. Christian Theiler promoted to Associate Professor

Published:12.03.24 — The ETH Board has promoted prof. Christian Theiler to Associate Professor of Physics in the School of Basic Sciences (SB).

Record turnout spotlights crucial role of JOREK code

Published:04.03.24 — The annual JOREK General Meeting successfully took place on EPFL campus from 12th to 16th February 2024. Hosted by the Swiss Plasma Center (SPC) for the first time, this event gathered more than 60 on-site and remote attendees across Europe, Asia and the US, marking the highest number of participants to date.