IMP | Institut für Mikrowellen- und Plasmatechnik

The IMP consists of a very international team (typically 6-7 academic staff and almost as many research assistants). The research institute has already guided 7 doctoral students to a doctorate. We have also had excellent experiences with DAAD students.

The IMP has established the two basic technologies GHz plasma technology and mixed-frequency IQ technology and verified them through various applications. 

With the recent breakthrough of the generation of in a chamber standing plasma, which is decoupled from the feed antenna, the IMP has a unique basis to contribute to climate protection to a high degree. In addition, a free-standing spherical plasma was recently generated!

For future new projects with these two basic technologies, research partners/investors are still being sought. There are currently also open resources for external development tasks in the plasma/field simulation area. 

GHz-Plasma Technology

• Between 433 MHz and 18 GHz and up to 6 kW, the IMP develops plasma sources by means of the hot S-parameter measurement technique and field simulation in all possible applications.
• Current topics: Uncoupled plasmas, free-standing plasmas, plasma jets, plasma chambers.
• Applications: Fundamentals for new fusion technology, 3D and 2.5D printing of metals and ceramics, materials spectroscopy, industrial furnaces, welding, surface cleaning. 
• Environmental: CO2 savings in industrial heating processes (replacement for H2 or natural gas burners e.g. electric hot air systems or furnaces) especially for inline processes. 
• Older developments: Household and shopping light lamps with best light spectrum and >90 lumen/W; GHz spark plugs.

Mixed-Frequency IQ-Technique

• Future topics: Cat's Eye2.0 (all-weather and range-finding), fully automated checkouts.
• Ongoing applications: 3D indoor (and outdoor) localization (in mm range), autonomous driving.
• Latest development: RFID with tracking and multi-tag recognition.
• Largest development to date: sea rescue system with low-cost tags (without battery 5€ / 1 km range and with battery 15€ / sight horizon). 
• Other possible fields of application: Building and bridge monitoring regarding vibrations, terrain monitoring, transmission distance measurements up to space.