Forty years ago, physicists at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics found a new plasma state that could be particularly suitable for energy production: the H-mode. On 8 November 1982, the corresponding paper was published, giving fusion research a worldwide boost. To this day, the investigation of the H-mode is one of their most important fields of work.

Current experiments and simulations show how to avoid destructive plasma instabilities in fusion reactors like ITER.
 

European researchers are using helium plasmas to test the interaction with the wall material of the Joint European Torus (JET). The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics is also involved.

Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) – the stellarator at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP), Greifswald – has been significantly improved and will resume scientific experiments in autumn 2022.

Interested in contributing to the development of a new energy source?

IPP offers an outgoing and stimulating international setting providing ambitious objectives in research, technology, tradesmanship and administration.

IPP is dedicated to training outstanding young scientists, from providing practicals for undergraduates, then bachelor, master and PhD theses, to the presentation of comprehensive courses of graduate study.