The German Electron Synchrotron (German: Deutsche Elektronen-Synchrotron), abbreviated DESY, is a national research center in Germany which operates particle accelerators used to investigate the structure of matter. It conducts a broad spectrum of inter-disciplinary scientific research in three main areas: particle and high energy physics; photon science; and the development, construction and operation of particle accelerators. The DESY is publicly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany, the States of Germany, and the German Research Foundation (DFR). DESY is a member of the Helmholtz Association and operates at sites in Hamburg and Zeuthen. DESY's function is to conduct fundamental research. It specializes in: In addition to operating its own large accelerator facilities, DESY also provides consulting services to research initiatives, institutes and universities. It is closely involved in major international projects such as the European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser, the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole and the International Linear Collider.
First atomic structure of an intact virus deciphered with an X-ray laser
An international team of scientists has for the first time used an X-ray free-electron laser to unravel the structure of an intact virus particle on the atomic level. The method used dramatically reduces the amount of virus ...
Jun 19, 2017
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Phosphorus-containing lipid molecule self-assembles into a cuboid structure
For the first time, scientists have observed a phosphorus-containing lipid molecule that assembles by itself to form cubes. Research carried out at facilities including DESY has shown that the unusual shape is due to special ...
Milestone on way to switching on world's largest superconducting linear accelerator
The international X-ray laser European XFEL has reached one of its final major milestones on the way to scientific user operation. DESY has successfully commissioned the particle accelerator, which drives the X-ray laser ...
Transparent ceramics make super-hard windows
Scientists have synthesised the first transparent sample of a popular industrial ceramic at DESY. The result is a super-hard window made of cubic silicon nitride that can potentially be used under extreme conditions like ...
Novel nozzle saves crystals—double flow concept widens spectrum for protein crystallography
Scientists are interested in the spatial structure of proteins to learn about the workings of these biomolecules. This knowledge can lead to a better understanding of the functions of biomolecules and to tailored medicines. ...
Scientists develop spectacles for X-ray lasers
An international team of scientists has tailored special X-ray glasses to concentrate the beam of an X-ray laser stronger than ever before. The individually produced corrective lens eliminates the inevitable defects of an ...
X-ray pulses reveal structure of viral cocoon: Scientists analyze smallest ever protein crystals
An international team of scientists has used high-intensity X-ray pulses to determine the structure of the crystalline protein envelope of an insect virus. Their analysis reveals the fine details of the building blocks that ...
Scientists lay foundations for new type of solar cell
An interdisciplinary team of researchers has laid the foundations for an entirely new type of photovoltaic cell. In this new method, infrared radiation is converted into electrical energy using a different mechanism from ...
Scientists spin artificial silk from whey protein
A Swedish-German team of researchers has cleared up a key process for the artificial production of silk. With the help of the intense X-rays from DESY's research light source PETRA III, the scientists could watch just how ...
First attosecond timing in a kilometre-wide laser-microwave network
Scientists at DESY have set up the world's most precise 'metronome' for a kilometre-wide network. The timing system synchronizes a 4.7-kilometer-long laser-microwave network with 950 attoseconds precision. An attosecond is ...
