Plasma Structure and Dynamics in Dual-Frequency Discharges: A Multi-Diagnostic Approach from Bulk to Sheath
Jessica Schleitzer has made groundbreaking contributions to low pressure dual frequency discharges in her thesis. She concentrated on the manipulation of microparticles by an optical tweezer, in principle an adjustable laser trap, for precise measurements of the force balances along the radius from the middle to the sheath in dual frequency RF discharges. At high laser power, i.e. strong trapping, she measured the electric field in the sheath while at low laser power, i.e. at higher sensitivity, she was able to measure the ion drag force in the presheath for the first time. Furthermore, combined with other diagnostic methods, Jessica Schleitzer was able to consistently reveal the observed phase dependency of the electrical asymmetry effect in these dual frequency discharges. Additionally, she provides a consistent explanation of the interaction between the various regions, the bulk, the presheath and the sheath as well as between the global control and the local, microscopic effects of the dual frequency RF discharges which are highly important for microelectronics manufacturing. She published her scientific achievements in five highly-ranked journals and six conference contributions. Recognized with various awards, she bridges fundamental investigations with new and highly valuable applications not only in microelectronics but also in various thin film deposition technologies.
With the success of Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), it has become clear that stellarators offer a particularly promising route to fusion energy. A central physics question is how a magnetic field can be shaped in such a way that the performance is maximised. Dr. Goodman’s thesis is cumulative in nature and treats different topics of stellarator optimisation. It shows, for the first time, that a magnetic field of the type used in W7-X can be tailored to confine high-energy particles well enough for a fusion reactor whilst preserving or improving all other plasma properties of interest. It is possible that a magnetic field broadly similar to that of W7-X can be tailored in such a way that the level of plasma turbulence is significantly reduced. Dr. Goodman also demonstrated that the turbulence reduction can be combined with all the other main criteria traditionally used in stellarator optimisation. The thesis presents a first-of-its-kind approach to finding a stable, quasi-isodynamic design (SQuID) for a stellarator. The work details an efficient algorithm for achieving precise quasi-isodynamic (QI) fields for a stellarator and proposes a handful of simple target functions for optimising QI stellarator configurations with respect to macroscopic and microscopic plasma stability, turbulent transport, impurity accumulation and coil construction. The results have provided the motivation for several private fusion companies to choose the quasi-isodynamic stellarator as their path to commercial fusion energy. In conclusion, the thesis of Alan Goodman describes a very substantial amount of work of extraordinary quality.
Theory-based integrated modelling of impurity transport in tokamaks
Daniel Fajardo’s work has led to important insights in the area of impurity transport and its effect on plasma behavior in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. The results are original and of great importance for the international fusion community. Dr Fajardo has developed a novel integrated theory-based modelling framework for impurity transport in tokamak plasmas and has validated it against existing experiments. The model developed by Dr. Fajardo, fast and accurate, has become the reference model to simulate neoclassical transport in tokamaks. Of particular relevance in this context the identification of the role of plasma rotation in impurity central accumulation of heavy impurities at various plasma collisionalities. Addressing the question of the impurity behavior in ITER, Dr. Fajardo has identified the key physics that govern tungsten transport in ITER plasmas, namely the large ratio of anomalous to neoclassical transport in ITER compared to present experiments, such that scenarios where uncontrolled core tungsten peaking can develop in ITER, requiring corrective procedures, are now predicted to be the low power L-mode phases rather than the high-power H-mode ones. With Dr Fajardo’s work, physics understanding of core tungsten transport in present experiments and future fusion reactors is sufficiently mature as to allow quantitative predictions.
Kinetic instabilities in extreme plasma physics: laboratory and astrophysical dynamics
Dr Bilbao has produced an outstanding PhD thesis which describes significant advances in kinetic modelling of extreme plasmas, encompassing plasma astrophysics as well as laboratory experiments. His work tackles a key unsolved problem in high-energy astrophysics concerning the origin of coherent radiation with bey high brightness temperatures in objects such as pulsars, magnetars and fast radio bursts. The theoretical framework he has developed also describes laboratory relativistic electron-positron beams, and he has made crucial contributions to the Fireball experiment at CERN. Using theoretical insight combined with advanced kinetic simulations, he has made new discoveries concerning the fundamental physics of collisionless relativistic plasmas subject to radiative cooling. He has shown that rings in momentum space form due to radiative cooling, and also discovered that this leads to onset of a pervasive maser instability. Furthermore, he has revealed the impact of betatron cooling on the kinetics of plasma-based accelerators and the conditions for the onset of the ion channel laser. The combination of these ground-breaking discoveries in a single thesis is remarkable. This work has led to a significant output of publications, including 3 first author papers in leading journals, and he has been invited to give talks at major international conferences in the field. His PhD thesis was awarded the highest possible mark at the University of Lisbon. The outstanding quality, depth, breadth and impact of his work make him a richly deserving recipient of the Plasma Physics PhD prize.
Christophe Laux is a pioneering figure in nanosecond discharge research whose work has fundamentally transformed the field. His contributions have driven the evolution of nanosecond discharges from a scientific concept to industrially-relevant technologies, with three concrete advances directly supporting energy transition and decarbonization efforts: the demonstration of plasma-assisted combustion in aeronautical combustors; the development of predictive modelling tools enabling the use of nanosecond discharges in industrial applications; and the use of nanosecond discharges for methane plasmalysis at an industrial scale.
In plasma-assisted combustion, Laux is widely recognized as a leading authority, as evidenced by his ERC-funded research, his comprehensive reviews of the field, and his role in organizing the first International Symposium on Plasma-Assisted Combustion (SoPAC). One of the exceptional contributions he made to the community concerns scalability. Several studies of plasma-assisted combustion demonstrated that high-voltage (1 – 10 kV) nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) discharges applied at high frequencies (10 – 100 kHz) can extend the operating range of burners, reduce their pollutant emissions, and improve the ignition properties of fuels. However, these studies were long confined to laboratory-scale burners (thermal powers below 10 kW). While Christophe Laux contributed to these fundamental studies, he also demonstrated the capability of the technology to function at high powers (> 100 kW) representative of aeronautical combustors. These achievements were recognized in 2024 with the start of the DEMO-PAC demonstrator, pursued in partnership with Safran Aircraft Engines. This demonstrator features nanosecond discharges applied at high frequencies within a full-scale aeronautical injector operated under industrial conditions (e.g., high pressure, liquid-fuel operation, and high thermal power). This demonstration marks the last decisive step from an academic proof-of-concept to the full deployment in an aeronautical application and could not have been possible without the last twenty years of development within Laux’s laboratory.
The second major contribution to plasma-assisted combustion is predictive modelling. The detailed simulation of nanosecond discharges is computationally prohibitive, as the characteristic spatial and temporal scales of plasmas (~μm and ~ps) differ by many orders of magnitude from those of reacting flows in combustors (~m and ~s). This scale disparity long prevented the inclusion of plasma effects in combustion simulations, effectively blocking any systematic design or optimization at industrial scale. Christophe Laux addressed this fundamental limitation by introducing a physically-grounded phenomenological model for energy branching in NRP discharges, building on his earlier identification of the “ultrafast heating mechanism”. This approach dramatically reduced computational cost while retaining quantitative accuracy. To date, it remains the only viable approach for simulating nanosecond discharges in realistic flame configurations and has enabled industrial actors such as Safran to incorporate plasma effects into large-eddy simulations, which are the cornerstone of modern combustor design. Together, these two contributions – demonstrations at aeronautically scales and innovative modelling of NRP discharges – establish Laux as a key architect of the transition of plasma-assisted combustion into a credible industrial technology.
Beyond plasma-assisted combustion, Laux has also had a major impact in the field of hydrogen and solid carbon production via methane plasmalysis, a key technology for the low-carbon energy transition. Building on more than two decades of research on nanosecond discharges in reactive mixtures, his group developed unique expertise in efficiently coupling electrical energy into methane plasmas. Together with one of his former Ph.D. students, this know-how enabled high conversion of CH4 into H2 while minimizing by-products and thermal losses. In addition to low-carbon H2, the process yields valuable solid carbon – including carbon black and carbon nanotubes – suitable for applications in polymers, batteries, and electronic components, and significantly improves the overall economic balance of the technology. This scientific and technological foundation directly enabled the growth of Spark Cleantech, a start-up founded on concepts developed in Christophe Laux’s laboratory. Several of his former Ph.D. students or post-docs are now key contributors within the company. In 2025, the maturity and scalability of this technology were confirmed by a €30 million capital raise, providing a strong industrial validation of the research initiated and sustained by Laux as a scientific advisor.
In addition to plasma-assisted combustion and methane plasmalysis, Laux also serves as a scientific advisor to Airity Technologies (high-voltage DC and pulsed supplies) and PICO (water treatment using nanosecond discharges). Finally, he is a founder of SpectralFit, a company providing the SPECAIR software used by countless research groups, agencies, and industries to interpret plasma emission
At the beginning of her career Philippa Browning devoted her research activity to understanding the mechanism of solar coronal heating. In 1991 she systematically analyzed possible mechanisms for coronal energy transfer, including magnetic reconnection, instabilities, and relaxation of twisted magnetic flux tubes containing free magnetic energy. Building on this foundation, in 2008 she demonstrated that ideal kink instabilities in twisted coronal flux tubes generate current sheets and trigger rapid magnetic reconnection, releasing energy that heats the plasma. These simulations quantified the relationship between initial current profiles and energy release, providing a rigorous theoretical basis for the nanoflare heating hypothesis and linking magnetic relaxation processes to observable solar phenomena. Subsequently, in collaboration with Mykola Gordovskyy, she demonstrated that this release of magnetic energy in a twisted coronal loop could also provide very effective acceleration of charged particles. She also made significant contributions to the understanding of particle acceleration in two- and three-dimensional magnetic reconnection sites in the solar corona. In particular in she elucidated the mechanisms that allow particle acceleration in 2D configurations; while in 2005 she extended these results to 3D configurations, relevant to solar flares, examining particle dynamics around 3D magnetic null points. Since the beginning of her career she has been able to unveil the common features of reconnection processes occurring in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas, establishing herself as a reference for both communities. Indeed in 1992 she led the theoretical modelling of the SPHEX spheromak device, elucidating its relaxation mechanisms, associated with the saturation of large-scale kink instabilities of the central column of magnetic field, and their role in helicity injection.
More recently, she extended these insights also to tokamak plasmas, investigating the similarities between edge localised modes (ELMs) and solar flares. In particular she contributed to the development of a model based on relaxation theory to predict ELM sizes. Last but not least, through her teaching, she has inspired many students, and has supervised a large number of them throughout their academic development.
This prize is awarded jointly by the EPS Plasma Physics Division and the Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (PPCF) journal of IOP Publishing to exceptional plasma physicists in the early stages of their careers. The prize is funded by PPCF.
The award is named after Prof. Dr. Sylvie Jacquemotfrom the Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses (LULI) located at École Polytechnique, France. Her scientific research encompasses plasma physics and related high-energy-density applications, in particular inertial fusion sciences and X-ray laser physics. She chaired the EPS Plasma Physics Division Board from 2012 – 2016. Currently, she is the Coordinator of the Laserlab-Europe Consortium which brings together 35 leading organisations in laser-based inter-disciplinary research from 18 countries.
Background
Eligibility
Eligible nominees for the EPS – PPCF Sylvie Jacquemot Early Career Prize are persons of any nationality, based in any country, who have made a substantial contribution to plasma physics and who, on January 31 in the year of the award, have less than six years of work experience following the award of a doctoral degree or less than ten years of experience in full-time research. These periods of eligibility can be extended to take account of career breaks if documentary evidence for them is provided.
Nominees and nominators do not need to be members of the EPS, and self-nominations will be accepted. However, nominees and nominators cannot be current members of the EPS Plasma Physics Division Board.
Award
In addition to receiving a prize and a certificate, the winner will be invited to give a talk on their work at the annual EPS Conference on Plasma Physics.
Each nomination needs to include:
Name and contact details of the nominator
Name and contact details of the nominee
Short citation (up to 200 characters)
Long citation (up to 2,500 characters)
Short biography of the nominee (up to 5,000 characters)
Supporting evidence (up to 2,500 characters) including a list of up to 5 publications, talks, and/or patents after obtaining a PhD (or over the six years prior to January 31 in the year of the award if the nominee does not have a PhD).
Documentary evidence for career breaks if an extension of the eligibility period is requested. An English translation should be attached if the documentation is not in that language.
Contact details of two referees and their supporting statements (up to 300 words each)
Nominees for and holders of EPS awards are expected to meet certain standards of professional conduct and integrity. They have an obligation to avoid fabrication, falsification and plagiarism, and they have an obligation to treat people well. This prohibits abuse of power, requires fair and respectful relationships with colleagues, subordinates, and students, and eschews bias, whether implicit or explicit. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or cause revocation of awards.
Nominations are now open for the 2026 prize. Please send your nominations using this typeform link by Friday October 31st 2025:https://form.typeform.com/to/KaPc6wa9
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email using the address epsjacquemot@bsc.es.
Previous prize winners
Year
Winner
2026
Elizabeth Grace from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), USA, for pioneering development of a novel on-shot laser imaging technique that enables the capture of plasma dynamics with unprecedented detail, advancing the understanding of high energy density physics, and opening new possibilities for research in fusion energy and fundamental plasma science.
2025
Arno Vanthieghem from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France, for major contributions to the plasma physics of extreme astrophysical phenomena through innovative theoretical models and high-performance numerical simulations.
2024
Varchas Gopalaswamy from the University of Rochester, USA, for the development of statistical modelling to achieve accurate predictions of laser fusion experiments thereby improving implosions and achieving record Lawson products for direct-drive on OMEGA.
Eric Robert and Sébastien Dozias are not only pioneers in the development of plasma jets at atmospheric pressure but also in their applications to medicine, cosmetics and well-being. Their major contribution was essential in the understanding and development of long-distance plasma jets and multijets which not only allowed them to achieve firsts and breakthroughs in the fields mentioned above, but also served as the basis for numerous works carried out by other teams around the world.
Robert and Dozias developed a plasma jet, the Plasma Gun (PG), in 2005-2006. This was patented in 2007 (US 60/999,083). This plasma jet at atmospheric pressure at long distances (a few centimeters to several meters) in several rare gases (He, Ne, Ar) was the basic tool for their first studies of the interactions between plasmas and biological targets. The plasma jet of the PG is produced using high voltage microsecond pulses (1-40 kV) at frequencies ranging from single-shot to several tens of kilohertz. Control and on-demand matching of the high voltage waveforms provided a unique opportunity to achieve major breakthroughs in the physics of the plasma jets. These include the key interactions between plasma jets and various targets, including those relevant for biological/biomedical applications. Robert and Dozias demonstrated the potential provided by the ability of the plasma jet to allow the production of multijets, from a single reactor, making possible the treatment of large surfaces. Their work also led to a better understanding of the processes linked to the production of the main reactive species, RONS, whose role is essential in the effects observed, particularly in plasma medicine, and those linked to plasma/gaseous environment interactions influencing the channeling of the carrier gas that is important for applications.
The use of the PG allowed Robert and Dozias to achieve several firsts in plasma medicine and plasma biology which have led to numerous other works carried out by other teams and to hospital applications, in particular in the areas of cancer and chronic wound treatment. With their team, Robert and Dozias carried out the first in vivo plasma cancer study and the first study showing the beneficial effect of combined use of plasma/chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer, since then confirmed by others. Another important first is the demonstration of the induction of a temporary increase in oxygenation and blood flow in the treated tissues. This result, subsequently confirmed by other teams, is extremely important in the treatment of chronic wounds and more generally in all treatments where oxygenation plays a major role, with applications now envisaged in sports medicine. It is also important to note their pioneer work on time resolved characterization of the intense transient electric field inherent to the plasma jets ignition and propagation and its delivery in interaction with various substrates. This allowed them to highlight the major role played by the plasma induced electric field, both at the cellular and skin levels, important for applications in cosmetics and dermatology. Very recently, they applied a multi-branched PG system to natural and synthetic fiber treatment, leading to a patented process in Europe and the USA.
Beyond applications in medicine, cosmetics, disinfection and material treatment, it is important to note that the work of Robert and Dozias, in collaboration with many other teams around Europe, recently led to a successful application to establish a European Doctoral Network on the use of multijets for the treatment of actinic keratosis. This project will be a unique opportunity to train eight early career researchers to plasma jet technology for innovative approach in cancer therapy, with the main objective of translating this laboratory-inspired research effort to medical institutions.
In accordance with the statutes of the Plasma Physics Division of the European Physical Society (EPS-PPD), there were several vacancies for incoming members of the Divisional Board in 2025. These were filled by a process of direct election by the Individual Members of the EPS. Board members themselves needed to be individual members of the EPS by the time they were elected. It is possible to become an individual member here.
The term of service is four years from summer 2025 to summer 2029, renewable by mutual agreement for a second four-year term. The first meeting that newly elected Board members were invited to attend took place in Vilnius, Lithuania on Sunday 6th July 2025.
The continuing membership of the EPS-PPD Board from 2025 to 2029 comprises:
Kristel Crombé (chair)
Hana Barankova
David Burgess
Mervi Mantsinen
Ken McClements (Hon. Sec.)
Brian Reville
Caterina Riconda
Monica Spolaore
Luca Volpe – ex officio BPIF section
The duties of Board members are:
to promote scientific excellence in plasma physics by rewarding researchers who have achieved outstanding results, through the extensive portfolio of prizes administered by EPS-PPD,
to sustain and coordinate the Annual Conference on plasma physics, through the selection of each year’s Programme Committee and by identifying and supporting the flow of conference venues,
to attend, in person, each of the two annual Board Meetings: one at the Annual Conference, and one at a European research centre in November or December,
to be (or, after election, become) an Individual Member of the EPS; this typically requires the payment of a very modest fee, supplementary to membership of a national physical society.
Nominations, including self-nominations, of candidates for membership of the Board opened on the 1st of October 2024. Candidates were asked to agree to serve if elected, subject to the conditions listed above; in addition, their home institute agreed to cover their travel expenses to all Board meetings.
