HIDRA First Plasma !

Today at 4:15pm, the Hybrid Illinois Device for Research and Applications (HIDRA) had its first plasma.  HIDRA, the former WEGA stellarator/tokamak, arrived at Illinois in Nov. 2014 and has been under reconstruction for the last 18 months.  All of the support systems – -power, water, vacuum, etc. are now operational and today marked the first confined plasma.   The HIDRA First Plasma event was attended by over 100 people including the Dean of Engineering, the Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering Dept. Head, most of the faculty and numerous alumni visitors.   The hard work of Prof. Daniel Andruczyk and many undergraduate and graduate students as well as help from the Universities Facilities and Services has paid off!