Prof. Dr. Rudolf Neu

Head of Plasma-Material Interaction and Components

After studying physics at the University of Tübingen and obtaining his doctorate in nuclear physics (1992), Rudolf Neu began working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Garching. In 1996, he spent six months as a visiting researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA). In 2004, he qualified as a professor at the University of Tübingen in experimental physics and in 2011 he was appointed adjunct professor there. After a year (2011/2012) as task force leader at the Joint European Torus (JET) in Culham, Great Britain, he took over as head of the ‘ITER Physics’ department at the European organisation EFDA (2012/2013).
Since 2014, he has been a professor at the Technical University of Munich and head of an independent research group at the IPP as part of a joint appointment. Here, he is primarily involved in the development of novel materials and components for the first wall and divertor of fusion facilities. In the same year, he was included in the ISI list of ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ in the ‘Engineering’ category.
In 2025, he became acting head of the IPP's ‘Plasma-Material Interaction and Components’ division.

Selected publications:

Neu, R.; Maier, H.; Böswirth, B.; Elgeti, S.; Greuner, H.; Hunger, K.; Kondas, J.; Müller, A. v.: Investigations on cold spray tungsten/tantalum coatings for plasma facing applications. Nuclear Materials and Energy 34, 101343 (2023)

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Neu, R.; Maier, H.; Balden, M.; Dux, R.; Elgeti, S.; Gietl, H.; Greuner, H.; Herrmann, A.; Höschen, T.; Li, M. et al.; Rohde, V.; Ruprecht, D.; Sieglin, B.; Zammuto, I.; ASDEX Upgrade Team, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Max Planck Society: Results on the use of tungsten heavy alloys in the divertor of ASDEX Upgrade. Journal of Nuclear Materials 511, pp. 567 - 573 (2018)

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Neu, R.; Maier, H.; Balden, M.; Elgeti, S.; Gietl, H.; Greuner, H.; Herrmann, A.; Houben, A.; Rohde, V.; Sieglin, B. et al.; Zammuto, I.; ASDEX Upgrade Team, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Max Planck Society: Investigations on tungsten heavy alloys for use as plasma facing material. Fusion Engineering and Design 124, pp. 450 - 454 (2017)

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Neu, R.; Riesch, J.; Coenen, J. W.; Brinkmann, J.; Calvo, A.; Elgeti, S.; Garcia-Rosales, C.; Greuner, H.; Hoeschen, T.; Holzner, G. et al.; Klein, F.; Koch, F.; Linsmeier, C.; Litnovsky, A.; Wegener, T.; Wurster, S.; You, J.-H.: Advanced tungsten materials for plasma-facing components of DEMO and fusion power plants. Fusion Engineering and Design 109-111, Pt. A, pp. 1046 - 1052 (2016)

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Neu, R.; Brezinsek, S.; Beurskens, M.; Bobkov, V.; Vries, P. d.; Giroud, C.; Joffrin, E.; Kallenbach, A.; Matthews, G. F.; Mayoral, M.-L. et al.; Pautasso, G.; Pütterich, T.; Ryter, F.; Schweinzer, J.; ASDEX Upgrade Team, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, Max Planck Society; JET EFDA Contributors: Experiences with Tungsten Plasma Facing Components in ASDEX Upgrade and JET. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 42 (3), pp. 552 - 562 (2014)

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Neu, R.; Arnoux, G.; Beurskens, M.; Bobkov, V.; Brezinsek, S.; Bucalossi, J.; Calabro, G.; Challis, C.; Coenen, J. W.; Luna, E. d. l. et al.; Vries, P. C. d.; Dux, R.; Frassinetti, L.; Giroud, C.; Groth, M.; Hobirk, J.; Joffrin, E.; Lang, P.; Lehnen, M.; Lerche, E.; Loarer, T.; Lomas, P.; Maddison, G.; Maggi, C.; Matthews, G.; Marsen, S.; Mayoral, M.-L.; Meigs, A.; Mertens, P.; Nunes, I.; Philipps, V.; Pütterich, T.; Rimini, F.; Sertoli, M.; Sieglin, B.; Sips, A. C. C.; Eester, D. v.; Rooij, G. v.; JET-EFDA Contributors: First operation with the JET International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor-like wall. Physics of Plasmas 20, 056111 (13pp) (2013)

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Neu, R.; Kallenbach, A.; Balden, M.; Bobkov, V.; Coenen, J. W.; Drube, R.; Dux, R.; Greuner, H.; Herrmann, A.; Hobirk, J. et al.; Höhnle, H.; Krieger, K.; Kocan, M.; Lang, P.; Lunt, T.; Maier, H.; Mayer, M.; Müller, H. W.; Potzel, S.; Pütterich, T.; Rapp, J.; Rohde, V.; Ryter, F.; Schneider, P. A.; Schweinzer, J.; Sertoli, M.; Stober, J.; Suttrop, W.; Sugiyama, K.; Rooij, G. v.; Wischmeier, M.; ASDEX Upgrade Team: Overview on plasma operation with a full tungsten wall in ASDEX Upgrade. Journal of Nuclear Materials 438, pp. S34 - S41 (2013)

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Neu, R.; ASDEX Upgrade Team; EU PWI Taskforce; JET EFDA Contributors: Preparing the scientific basis for an all metal ITER. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 53 (Pt. 2: Invited Papers), 124040 (24pp) (2011)

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Neu, R.; Balden, M.; Bobkov, V.; Dux, R.; Gruber, O.; Herrmann, A.; Kallenbach, A.; Kaufmann, M.; Maggi, C. F.; Maier, H. et al.; Müller, H. W.; Pütterich, T.; Pugno, R.; Rohde, V.; Sips, A. C. C.; Stober, J.; Suttrop, W.; Angioni, C.; Atanasiu, C. V.; Becker, W.; Behler, K.; Behringer, K.; Bergmann, A.; Bertoncelli, T.; Bilato, R.; Bottino, A.; Brambilla, M.; Braun, F.; Buhler, A.; Chankin, A.; Conway, G.; Coster, D. P.; de Marne, P.; Dietrich, S.; Dimova, K.; Drube, R.; Eich, T.; Engelhardt, K.; Fahrbach, H.-U.; Fantz, U.; Fattorini, L.; Fink, J.; Fischer, R.; Flaws, A.; Franzen, P.; Fuchs, J. C.; Gal, K.; Garcia Munoz, M.; Gemisic-Adamov, M.; Giannone, L.; Gori, S.; da Graca, S.; Greuner, H.; Gude, A.; Günter, S.; Haas, G.; Harhausen, J.; Heinemann, B.; Hicks, N.; Hobirk, J.; Holtum, D.; Hopf, C.; Horton, L.; Huart, M.; Igochine, V.; Kalvin, S.; Kardaun, O.; Kick, M.; Kocsis, G.; Kollotzek, H.; Konz, C.; Krieger, K.; Kurki-Suonio, T.; Kurzan, B.; Lackner, K.; Lang, P. T.; Lauber, P.; Laux, M.; Likonen, J.; Liu, L.; Lohs, A.; Mank, K.; Manini, A.; Manso, M.-E.; Maraschek, M.; Martin, P.; Martin, Y.; Mayer, M.; McCarthy, P.; McCormick, K.; Meister, H.; Meo, F.; Merkel, P.; Merkel, R.; Mertens, V.; Merz, F.; Meyer, H.; Mlynek, M.; Monaco, F.; Murmann, H.; Neu, G.; Neuhauser, J.; Nold, B.; Noterdaeme, J.-M.; Pautasso, G.; Pereverzev, G.; Poli, E.; Pueschel, M.; Raupp, G.; Reich, M.; Reiter, B.; Ribeiro, T.; Riedl, R.; Roth, J.; Rott, M.; Ryter, F.; Sandmann, W.; Santos, J.; Sassenberg, K.; Scarabosio, A.; Schall, G.; Schirmer, J.; Schmid, A.; Schneider, W.; Schramm, G.; Schrittwieser, R.; Schustereder, W.; Schweinzer, J.; Schweizer, S.; Scott, B.; Seidel, U.; Serra, F.; Sertoli, M.; Sigalov, A.; Silva, A.; Speth, E.; Stäbler, A.; Steuer, K.-H.; Strumberger, E.; Tardini, G.; Tichmann, C.; Treutterer, W.; Tröster, C.; Urso, L.; Vainonen-Ahlgren, E.; Varela, P.; Vermare, L.; Wagner, D.; Wischmeier, M.; Wolfrum, E.; Würsching, E.; Yadikin, D.; Yu, Q.; Zasche, D.; Zehetbauer, T.; Zilker, M.; Zohm, H.: Plasma wall interaction and its implication in an all tungsten divertor tokamak. Invited Paper. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 49, pp. B59 - B70 (2007)

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Neu, R.; Dux, R.; Kallenbach, A.; Pütterich, T.; Balden, M.; Fuchs, J. C.; Herrmann, A.; Maggi, C. F.; O'Mullane, M.; Pugno, R. et al.; Radivojevic, I.; Rohde, V.; Sips, A. C. C.; Suttrop, W.; Whiteford, A.; ASDEX Upgrade Team: Tungsten: an option for divertor and main chamber plasma facing components in future fusion devices. Nuclear Fusion 45, pp. 209 - 218 (2005)

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