Ready for the Next 30 Years

The arrival of the new AIDAc2 chamber on 7 July 2026 represents one of the most significant infrastructure milestones in the recent history of our institute. Installed at Campus North after nine months of manufacturing and a carefully coordinated transport operation, the chamber replaces the original AIDAc facility that has been in operation for almost 30 years.

Over those three decades, AIDA became a cornerstone of atmospheric research at KIT and an internationally recognized platform for studying cloud and aerosol processes. Thousands of experiments conducted in the chamber have contributed to a better understanding of how airborne particles influence clouds, weather, and climate.

The new AIDAc2 facility has been designed to meet the scientific challenges of the coming decades. Enhanced technical capabilities, including lower achievable temperatures and improved cleanliness throughout the system, will enable researchers to perform experiments under conditions that were previously not possible. While considerable work remains before the first experiments are expected in late 2027 or early 2028, the successful installation of the chamber marks an important achievement and a promising beginning for the next generation of atmospheric research at IMKAAF.

The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space is funding and supporting AIDAc2 as part of the ACTRIS-D project.