Our history

The origins of the LPP

The Laboratory of Plasma Physics (LPP) was created in 2009 through the merger of part of the CETP (Centre for the Study of Terrestrial and Planetary Environments), formerly located at the Saint-Maur and Vélizy sites, and the LPTP (Laboratory of Plasma Technology Physics).
- The CETP, under the supervision of CNRS/INSU and UVSQ (University of Versailles), had been, since the 1960s, a pioneering laboratory in France and internationally in space exploration. Its research themes expanded over time: from ionospheric physics to the exploration of Earth’s magnetosphere, then planetary magnetospheres, and finally the Sun and the solar wind.
- The LPTP, under the supervision of CNRS/INSIS and École Polytechnique, focused on various types of plasmas: magnetic confinement fusion plasmas, pulsed plasmas, and cold plasmas, with a strong experimental laboratory component.

In 2009, the LPP was established with the ambition and scientific objective of bringing together, within a single unit, plasma physicists from very different fields: astrophysics, hot and fusion plasma physics, and cold and reactive plasma physics. Due to this broad spectrum of origins, the LPP initially operated on three sites (Vélizy, Saint-Maur, and Palaiseau) with four supervisory institutions (CNRS, École Polytechnique, UPMC, and Université Paris-Sud).
During the first term (2009–2014), the Vélizy site was closed, and most staff members moved to the École Polytechnique site in Palaiseau.
As of January 1, 2015, the Observatoire de Paris became a supervisory institution of the LPP.
During the following term (2015–2019), the Saint-Maur site remained active until October 2015, when the remaining equipment and personnel were relocated to the Pierre and Marie Curie campus.
Since the end of 2015, the laboratory has been permanently established on two sites:
- École Polytechnique in Palaiseau (approximately 2,200 m²)
- Pierre and Marie Curie campus of Sorbonne Université (approximately 900 m² over two levels)

From 2009 to November 2017, the LPP was structured into four scientific teams:
- Fusion Plasmas
- Cold Plasmas
- Pulsed Hot Plasmas
- Space Plasmas
Since December 2017, the LPP has consisted of:
- Three scientific teams:
  - Fusion Plasmas
  - Low Temperature Plasmas
  - Space Plasmas
- Two support teams:
  - Administrative Team
  - IT Team
- Two cross-cutting scientific axes complement the laboratory’s organization:
  - A cross-cutting “Turbulence” axis
  - A “Computational Plasmas” axis

Since its creation in 2009, the LPP has been directed by: