ELBE as a User Facility

ELBE is a world-wide unique instrument providing a compact, accelerator-driven photon and particle source. The variety of secondary radiation being offered extends from high-energy gamma rays, to infrared and THz radiation, to neutron, positron and electron beams.

ELBE is operated as user facility, providing more than 50% of the beamtime to external user groups.

The publications resulting from experiments at ELBE demonstrate the wealth of research fields covered by the activities at ELBE.

Application for beamtime and modalities of access

Two calls for proposals for experiments at ELBE are published per year. The next deadline for submission of beamtime applications for the 2^nd term of 2018 will be

October 25th, 2018

Proposals are submitted through the user portal GATE. 

We strongly recommend discussing the feasibility of planned experiments with the responsible beamline scientist prior to the submission of a proposal, in particular, if you are a new user.

Access is free of charge for all non-proprietary research. User groups from outside Germany requesting access to beamlines involved in "Integrating activities" funded from the EU framework programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 may apply for a reimbursement of travel costs. Please visit our specific website on Trans-national Access for details on this funding scheme.

Evaluation Process

The proposals are evaluated by the members of the international and interdisciplinary Scientific Advisory Committee for the ELBE - Center for High-Power Radiation Sources.

Allocation of Beamtime and Reporting

Based on the recommendations of this committee the final decision and allocation of beamtime are made by an internal panel headed by the Scientific Director of HZDR.
Applicants will be informed in January 2019.

After finishing the experiments and latest in the beginning of the next term (January or June respectively), a report has to be submitted via GATE. Missing reports for completed experiments exclude the renewed scheduling of beamtime.