The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Greifswald has gifted a multimillion dollar plasma/fusion advanced physics testing facility to the University of Illinois as a result of the relationship the NPRE – Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering’s plasma/fusion group has developed with the German institute. The HIDRA (Hybrid Illinois Device for Research and Applications) facility will boost the ability to perform fusion-relevant experiments on plasma-materials interactions, liquid metals, plasma nano-synthesis, fusion transport models, and materials processing.

The facility began arriving on campus in shipments this week, trucks bringing boxes of parts of the device – disassembled in Greifswald, Germany over the summer. Rebuilding will begin immediately upon arrival and operations are expected to begin by summer 2015.