Departments at the Institute of Radiation Physics

The Radiation Source ELBE (Electron Linac for beams with high Brilliance and low Emittance) delivers multiple secondary beams, both elctromagnetic radiation and particles. The characteristics of these beams make ELBE an outstanding research instrument for external users as well as scientists of the HZDR.
Head: Dr. Andreas Wagner

Lasers with petawatt peak power enable the development of advanced ultra-compact particle accelerators and light sources with applications ranging from cancer research to probing of ultrafast processes. Dedicated target areas are optimized for the investigation and application of relativistic laser-plasma processes by in-house and external researchers.
Head: Prof. Ulrich Schramm

Nuclear physics measurement methods and their application are the core research topics of the Department of Nuclear Physics. Experiments are conducted to investigate nuclear reactions for astrophysics and technical applications. A major focus is on the development of novel radiation detectors, which are also used in medicine.

• Nuclear Physics Data for Science and Technology
• Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy
• Nuclear Astrophysics
• Detector Development

Head: Prof. Dr. Andreas Wagner

Experimental and theoretical studies of dynamic processes at extreme conditions, such as high pressures, high temperatures or strong electromagnetic fields are the core topics of this division. We scientifically support the commissioning and further development of the Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) at European XFEL and will soon perform first experiments with this infrastructure.

• Planetary Interiors

• Stellar Interiors

• Astrophysical Plasmas

• Intense Laser-Matter Interaction

• Ultrafast X-ray Diagnostics

• Modern ‘First-Principles’ Simulation Methods

Head: Prof. Dr. Tobias Dornheim

The Department of High-Field THz-driven Phenomena traces the fundamental low-energy excitations of matter, controls their dynamics on ultrafast time scales, and provides the unique superradiant THz source TELBE for international user access. Our own research is centered around:

• (Chiral) Nonlinear Phononics
• THz Physics of Quantum Materials & Emerging Semiconductors
• THz High-Harmonics
• (Nonlinear) THz Spintronics
• THz Cavity Electrodynamics
• THz ARPES

Head: Prof. Dr. Sebastian F. Maehrlein