In Memory of Prof. Dr. Yuri V. Mitrishkin (1946–2024)

On 22 January 2024, at the age of 78, Yuri Vladimirovich Mitrishkin (Figure 1), an outstanding scientist and remarkable educator with half a century of experience, passed away unexpectedly. He held the title of Doctor of Engineering Sciences, was a professor at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and served as a principal researcher at the Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Yuri Mitrishkin was born in Kuybyshev (now Samara) on 26 November 1946. He graduated from the Kuybyshev Polytechnic Institute (now Samara State Technical University) with a degree in industrial electronics in 1970. His journey into academia began when he entered the postgraduate school of the Institute of Control Sciences in 1972, marking the inception of his illustrious scientific career. In 1978, he successfully defended his candidate dissertation entitled “Control System Tuning by Automatic Search Method” at the Institute of Control Sciences. Continuing his academic pursuits, he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1982, earning a degree in applied mathematics. In 2003, he attained his doctoral degree with a dissertation on “Integrated Development and Application of Adaptive Self-Oscillating and Robust Control Systems for Plasma in Thermonuclear Plants” at the Kurchatov Institute. His unwavering dedication to research led him to devote fifty years to the Institute of Control Sciences, where he remained until his final day.

Yuri Mitrishkin’s commitment to education was exemplified through his teaching endeavors at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. From 2009 until his passing, he served as a professor at the Department of Physical and Mathematical Methods of Control at the Faculty of Physics of Lomonosov Moscow State University (Figure 2).

From his early days as a graduate student, Yuri Mitrishkin demonstrated a keen interest in the emerging problem of controlled thermonuclear fusion. He was an expert in control systems and electronics, and he was intrigued by the application of his skills to develop plasma control systems in tokamaks. He dedicated his life to this issue, becoming a leading expert in plasma control in Russia. His work was recognized worldwide, as he conducted research and developed plasma control systems in open magnetic traps OGRA-2 and OGRA-3, as well as in tokamaks TUMAN-3, TVD, TSP, T-11, T-15, Globus, Globus-M, IGNITOR, KTM and Globus-M2.

Internationally, he contributed his expertise to projects such as the JET tokamak at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in the United Kingdom (1994–1995) and the international ITER tokamak project at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (1995–1998), where he also served as a professor at the University of Tokyo. He harbored hopes of witnessing the realization of the first thermonuclear power station or the inaugural plasma discharge in the ITER tokamak, but sadly, these aspirations remained unfulfilled.

Yuri Mitrishkin served as a reviewer for numerous journals, was a guest editor of the Mathematics journal (Special issue “Dynamics and Control Theory with Applications” [1]), and reviewed several hundred articles during his lifetime. He was a regular participant in international conferences, including multiple appearances at the IFAC World Congress, and held memberships in esteemed organizations such as the IEEE Control Systems Society and The IEEE CSS Technical Committee on Power Generation. Notably, he played integral roles in organizing conferences such as The IFAC Conference on Manufacturing Modelling, Management, and Control (2013, Russia) and co-chaired the section of Identification for Control at the IFAC World Congress 2020 (Germany). He left behind more than 200 scientific papers, including a comprehensive review on plasma control in tokamaks [2,3,4,5], 12 monographs on the theory of automatic control and synthesis of magnetic control systems for plasma in tokamaks, and 23 patents for inventions.

Professor Mitrishkin maintained an open-door policy, always welcoming students interested in plasma control systems to collaborate on research projects. He instilled in them the ability to independently identify and solve scientific challenges, providing fair evaluation and heartfelt congratulations on their achievements. Known for his tactful communication and unique sense of humor, he effortlessly connected with students, fostering their interest in novel problems. He approached mentorship with respect and dedication, extending his guidance beyond regular hours and actively engaging with students until his final days. He made long-term plans, followed them, and achieved his goals. He inspired confidence in his students, that their goals were achievable. He founded a scientific school on plasma control in tokamaks, which will continue its work and further develop his ideas.

Yuri Mitrishkin’s legacy transcends his scientific contributions; he was an exemplary educator and mentor, nurturing a new generation of scientists. Through his wisdom and guidance, he leaves behind a lasting impact on the field of plasma control, fostering a community of students and colleagues who cherished his insights and mentorship. We will remember him as a great scientist, an outstanding educator, and a compassionate mentor, whose passion for science, dedication, and wisdom inspired and captivated us all. His boundless patience, openness, and willingness to help will remain in our hearts, reminding us of his unparalleled contributions to the field of plasma control and education. R.I.P.