04/08/2026

Up to now, the explicit thermographic inversion code THEODOR has been used to calculate the heat flux distribution on plasma-facing components from the evolution of surface temperature derived from infrared camera measurements. However, due to the missing capability of defining multiple material layers, THEODOR cannot be used for the water-cooled high-heat flux divertors of W7-X made of layers of different materials. To this end, Sebastian Thiede developed the code DELVER (Divertor Energy Load Versatile EstimatoR). DELVER improves upon explicit THEODOR in further aspects by handling 1D, 2D, and 3D modeling with flexible boundary conditions, an implicit solver, arbitrary functional temperature dependency of the orthotropic thermal properties of the materials, and a non-equidistant orthogonal calculation grid. The results have now been published in Rev. Sci. Instrum. 

04/07/2026

In his bachelor's thesis, Andre Elvers, together with Sebastian Haag, developed and built the axial positioning system for VINETA.75. The axial positioning system is of particular importance to the HELIKWAKE project. 
Using this system, he investigated how the axial profiles behave in terms of density and temperature in the VINETA.75 and whether plasma detachment occurs. We thank Mr. Elvers for his excellent work. 

03/26/2026

We are delighted to have been able to secure Dr. Horst Holger Boltz at such short notice as the successor to Dr. Stefan Knauer for the PlaCOs project. With his experience in interdisciplinary research and his specialist knowledge of non-equilibrium dynamics, he is a tremendous asset to the PlaCOs project. 

03/09/2026

Dr Stefan Knauer is taking on new professional challenges and switching from physics to psychology. Stefan Knauer joined our research group in October 2021. With Stefan’s departure, we are losing an experienced experimental physicist. He has made a significant contribution to our development as a group. He played a key role in the reconstruction of VINETA, where he particularly excelled in the control of the heating system and diagnostics. Stefan also set up the SEAGULL experiment largely on his own. Nor would we have been able to commission SWADEX-II without him. In particular, the study on Keplerian rotation in SWADEX-II, conducted under his leadership, was a major success for the research group. He was a key pillar of support in supervising students. We would like to thank Stefan for his outstanding work and dedication over the past years and wish him every happiness and success in his new career.  

03/08/2026

In his bachelor’s thesis, Johannes Condoi investigated the electromagnetic radio-frequency field in capacitively and inductively coupled plasmas using B-dot probes. Whilst in capacitive coupling mode the RF wave propagates through the plasma, in inductive coupling mode an azimuthal plasma current forms near the antenna, thereby heating the plasma. 

The B-Dot probes have been successfully tested and can be used in the VINETA.75. These are required for the HELIWAKE project. 

Johannes Condoi is leaving our research group to join our partner at Kyushu University in Japan. We would like to thank him for his excellent work, wish him every success there, and look forward to a fruitful collaboration.  

03/03/2026

Peter Manz was on the jury for Kaiyu Zhang’s PhD defence. Congratulations to Dr Zhang on successfully defending his excellent thesis. Dr Zhang has succeeded in enabling global electrodynamic simulations for the edge region of tokamaks in realistic geometries. We are sure to hear a lot more from him in the future.