The annual exchange of experience on plasma and ion beam processes for applications in surface modification took place in Mühlleithen from 11 to 14 March 2025 and was jointly organized by the Plasma Technology working group of the Institute for Experimental and Applied Physics at the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and the Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM) Leipzig. As in previous years, researchers from IOM and other universities, research institutes and industry took the opportunity to present their own research results and to engage in intensive interdisciplinary exchange with experts in the fields of ion beam and plasma physics, surface analysis and polymer chemistry. Discussions among participants focused on plasma and ion beam processes, including their applications for the treatment and modification of surfaces, as well as on work on new plasma and ion beam sources and their diagnostics and modeling. In addition, current developments in the field of ion beam generation were presented and intensively discussed, with a special focus on the development and qualification of electric drive systems in space travel.

This event format, which was initiated in 1993 by the then IOM employee Dr. Michael Zeuner as part of a DFG project, has been in existence for 32 years now and, despite a two-year interruption (due to the pandemic in 2020/21), continues to be in high demand. The event provided an opportunity to look back and honor the many years of commitment of Horst Neumann, former IOM employee, who helped organize the event for many years and played a key role in shaping it. His successor is Dr. Daniel Spemann, head of the cross-sectional unit “Tools” at the IOM, who will actively continue this tradition.