Head of Deparment: Dr. Michael Rieth

Our research and development work is part of large-scale research and makes an important contribution to energy research at national and European level. As a partner in the Helmholtz Association's energy program and a member of the EUROfusion large-scale research project, we are actively shaping the future of nuclear fusion.

Focus

We develop structural and functional materials that can withstand extreme conditions. These include high temperatures and heat fluxes, as well as high-energy neutron radiation in combination with mechanical, chemical, or time-critical loads. The material properties are tailored by us for each specific application case. In this way, we open up new applications and areas of use in the field of energy conversion. Typical examples include components of a fusion power plant, such as plasma-facing components (divertor), heat exchangers (blanket), and neutron multipliers (tritium breeding elements).

Competence

Our research is application-oriented and, above all, takes place under the aspects of large-scale research. Therefore, alongside sustainability and cost-effectiveness, the focus is particularly on the use of industrial production, forming, joining, and manufacturing technologies. Starting from an idea, our materials development encompasses theoretical modelling, thermodynamic and thermo-mechanical simulations, production in the laboratory and on an industrial scale, experimental characterization of all relevant properties, microstructural and chemical analyses, the manufacturing of prototypes (semi-finished products and mockups), as well as component testing under the respective operating conditions. Our goal is to provide novel materials, including the materials technology process parameters and key characteristics required for production and component manufacturing.

Network

Despite our focus on materials for very specific applications, the boundary conditions, requirements, and properties to be considered are very complex and diverse. So not all necessary investigations and experiments can be carried out within our department. Therefore, we collaborate closely with a variety of partners from KIT, industry, and other research institutions both domestically and internationally. In particular, the characterization and testing of prototypes requires access to large-scale facilities, such as test reactors for neutron irradiation: : HFIRBR2, or experimental setups for the investigation of plasma-material interactions: HELOKA, ASDEXGLADISJUDITH & JULE-PSI.

Department Group

Graues Hintergrundbild
High-Temperature Materials

Gray Background
Microstructure Analysis

Gaskorrosion

Graues Hintergrundbild
Automated Modeling and Validation

Automated modeling and validation

Group

Atomistische Modellierung
und Validierung

Publicationslist


Experimentelle und numerische Untersuchungen an mit dem hochfrequenten Hämmerverfahren behandelten Schweißverbindungen
Gkatzogiannis, S.; Schubnell, J.; Knödel, P.; Farajian, M.; Ummenhofer, T.; Luke, M.
2021. Schweissen und Schneiden, 73 (4), 222–229
Performance enhancement of Pd-based selective ammonia oxidation catalysts through forced dynamic operation
Häber, T.; Cárdenas, C.; Vijayaraghavan, S.; Othman, I. B.; Zimina, A.; Maurer, F.; Grunwaldt, J.-D.; Deutschmann, O.; Lott, P.
2026. Applied Catalysis B: Environment and Energy, 127073. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2026.127073
Towards Quantum Software for Quantum Simulation
Franz, M.; Schmidbauer, L.; Ammermann, J.; Schaefer, I.; Mauerer, W.
2026. Proceedings of the 7th IEEE/ACM International Workshop on Quantum Software Engineering, 50–54, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). doi:10.1145/3786150.3788611
Compensation of 1/1 and 2/2 error field in Wendelstein 7-X via divertor heat load symmetrization
W7-X Team; Gao, Y.; Bozhenkov, S.; Feng, Y.; Thiede, S.; Jakubowski, M. W.; Geiger, J.; Stange, T.; Grulke, O.; Endler, M.; Otte, M.; Naujoks, D.; Fellinger, J.; Pisano, F.
2026. Nuclear Fusion, 66 (7), 076015. doi:10.1088/1741-4326/ae738e
Motional Stark Effect measurements and modelling at Wendelstein 7-X
W7-XTeam; Zanini, M.; Ford, O.; Bannmann, S.; Hausten, E. V.; Kügler, J.; Poloskei, P. Z.; Rahbarnia, K.; Romba, T.; Wolf, R. C.
2026. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 68 (6), 065033. doi:10.1088/1361-6587/ae7636
Investigating physics-informed neural networks for heat flux estimation: a sensitivity analysis towards Wendelstein 7-X applications
W7-X Team; Aymerich, E.; Pisano, F.; Sias, G.; Cannas, B.; Fanni, A.; Fellinger, J.; Gao, Y.; Jakubowski, M.; Thiede, S.
2026. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 68 (6), 065026. doi:10.1088/1361-6587/ae763a
First use of an InSb crystal for x-ray imaging spectroscopy of highly ionized tungsten in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator
W7-X Team; Gonda, T.; Pablant, N.; Maurer, D.; Ennis, D.; Langenberg, A.; Pütterich, T.; Buttenschön, B.; Wegner, T.; Reimold, F.; Romba, T.; Tamura, N.; Medina Roque, D.; Loch, S.; Knauer, J.; Fuchert, G.; Pasch, E.; Bozhenkov, S.; Jakob Brunner, K.; Wagner, J.
2026. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 68 (6), 065031. doi:10.1088/1361-6587/ae775b
Method for Automating the Layout of Wireless Charging Infrastructure for Public Transport Vehicles
Ziesel, P.; Neff, F.; Kuch, K.; Cichon, M.
2025. 2025 2nd International Conference on Production Technologies and Systems for E-Mobility (EPTS), 1–9, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi:10.1109/EPTS67931.2025.11547362
Challenges related to microwave SQUID multiplexing of MMCs
Neidig, M.; Schuster, C.; Wegner, M.; Wünsch, S.; Kempf, S.
2024, November 5. 3rd Workshop on Physics and Applications of Magnetic Microcalorimeters (2024), Paris, France, November 4–5, 2024
Next-Generation Microwave SQUID Multiplexers for Magnetic Microcalorimeter readout
Neidig, M.; Schuster, C.; Wegner, M.; Wünsch, S.; Kempf, S.
2025, January 16. 12th ITEP Young Scientists Workshop (2025), Kristberg, Austria, January 13–16, 2025
Next-Generation Microwave SQUID Multiplexers for Magnetic Microcalorimeter readout
Neidig, M.; Gartmann, R.; Muscheid, T.; Schuster, C.; Ardila-Perez, L.; Wegner, M.; Sander, O.; Kempf, S.
2025, June 4. 21th International Conference on Low Temperature Detectors (2025), Santa Fe, NM, USA, June 1–6, 2025
Next-Generation Microwave SQUID Multiplexers for Microcalorimeter readout
Neidig, M.
2026, February 24. KSETA Plenaryworkshop (2026), Wildau, Germany, February 24–26, 2026
Large Language Models for Self-Adaptive Systems: Feedback-Loop Integration and Agentic Adaptation
Kara, K.; Mate, B.; Scotti, V.; Perez-Palacin, D.; Mirandola, R.
2026. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi:10.5445/IR/1000194592
From Challenging Fuel to Future Energy Carrier: Ammonia in Combustion Process Development
Braun, A.; Koch, T.; Kubach, H.; Bernhardt, S.; Mohr, H.; Baufeld, T.; Prehn, S.
2026. Kraftstoffe für die Mobilität von morgen, Jürgen Krahl, Axel Munack, Peter Eilts, Jürgen Bünger, 134–144, Cuvillier Verlag
Experimental Investigation of the Compaction Behavior of Battery Electrodes Using Instrumented Indentation and Calendering
Kößler, F.; Halwas, P.; Fleischer, J.
2025. 2025 2nd International Conference on Production Technologies and Systems for E-Mobility (EPTS), 1–6, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi:10.1109/EPTS67931.2025.11547631
On Converting Natural Language Requirements into Semi-Formal Templates Using LLMs
Roßkothen, J.; Fuchß, D.; Erdösi, F.; Floruß, M.; Keim, J.; Hey, T.
2026. 2026 IEEE 34th International Requirements Engineering Conference (RE)
iAssist – Explainable AI-Based Eco-Design Support
Doellken, M.; Liewerenz, O.; Li, J.; Höllig, J.; Thoma, S.; Matthiesen, S.
2026. Procedia CIRP, 142, 79–84. doi:10.1016/j.procir.2026.05.227


Contact person

Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Michael Rieth
Head of Department Metallic Materials

+49 721 608-22909
michael.rieth∂kit.edu