Max Planck Columbia Center – Optimizing Symmetry in Fusion Plasmas
The Max Planck Columbia Center “Optimizing Symmetry in Fusion Plasmas” is a joint center established by the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) and Columbia University in New York to accelerate innovation in fusion energy science. Scheduled to begin its work in 2027, the center is initially established for five years, with the option of a one-time extension, and has a joint budget of €11.4 million (US$13.3 million). It is a virtual center that strengthens research links between Garching, Greifswald, and New York. A central component is the exchange of students, doctoral candidates, and postdoctoral researchers. Max Planck Centers are a key element of the Max Planck Society’s internationalization strategy.
Leadership:
Prof. Dr. Thomas Klinger, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
Prof. Dr. Carlos Paz-Soldan, Associate Professor of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics at Columbia Engineering and Director of the Columbia Fusion Research Center
Joint budget:
€11.4 million (US$13.3 million). IPP contributes €5 million, with the remainder provided by several U.S. institutions: Columbia University, Simons Foundation International, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Research
The center’s scientific program comprises six work packages jointly coordinated by IPP and Columbia University. The U.S. contacts are listed on Columbia University’s website.
Power Exhaust in Optimized Stellarators
IPP coordinator: Dr. Felix Reimold
This work addresses the still partly unresolved challenge of power and particle exhaust in optimized stellarators. Novel transport and turbulence codes will be developed, improved, benchmarked, and validated against experimental data. The goal is to establish quantitative predictive capabilities.
Hybrid Magnetic Field Configurations
IPP coordinator: Dr. Gabriel Plunk
This work package aims to develop a hybrid concept combining features of stellarators and tokamaks. Researchers will seek a compact and stable magnetic configuration with excellent plasma confinement properties.
Plasma Transients
IPP coordinators: Dr. Matthias Hölzl, Dr. Pavel Aleynikov
Researchers will investigate plasma transients in tokamaks and stellarators using computer simulations. Such major events break the symmetry of the plasma and lead to an abrupt loss of thermal energy and, ultimately, the generation of fast particles. Both effects can endanger plasma-facing components.
Superconducting Magnets
IPP coordinators: Prof. Dr. Olaf Grulke, Dr. Felix Warmer
This work package focuses on the engineering development of high- and low-temperature superconducting magnets. Researchers aim to improve the understanding of quench behavior—the physical phenomena that occur during the transition from the superconducting to the normal-conducting state—and to investigate the stresses and strains that arise in non-planar magnets.
Fast Particles and Alfvénic Modes
IPP coordinator: Dr. Axel Könies
The aim is to improve the understanding of interactions between energetic particles and Alfvénic modes. Researchers will also consider novel aspects of their coupling to plasma microturbulence. Alfvénic modes are characteristic oscillations in a magnetized plasma in which the plasma and magnetic field move in a coupled manner.
Edge Instabilities and Quasi-Continuous Exhaust
IPP coordinator: Prof. Dr. Tim Happel
Researchers will conduct coordinated experiments and perform multi-machine modeling of large edge instabilities in tokamaks. Particular emphasis will be placed on quasi-continuous exhaust and plasmas with negative triangularity.