HZDR Participation in the Development of Helmholtz Research Infrastructures

The Helmholtz Association is establishing unique research infrastructures within the frame of cross-institutional large-scale projects which are expected to enable users from science and industry to have central access to cutting-edge equipment and methods. The HZDR is currently participating in the following construction measures.

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• HIBEF: Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields
  The Helmholtz International Beamline for Extreme Fields (HIBEF) at the High Energy Density (HED) experimental station at the x-ray laser European XFEL in Schenefeld near Hamburg is considered one of the most advanced research facilities worldwide and provides research groups around the globe with state-of-the-art instruments.
  
  Since 2021, investigations under extreme conditions such as high pressures, temperatures or electromagnetic fields have been possible at the HED station thanks to HIBEF. For this purpose, HZDR provides a facility for studying materials in the highest magnetic fields as well as a high-power laser for ultrashort light pulses, which is capable of heating electrons on the surface of materials to several billion degrees. The knowledge gained can be used, for example, to improve models of planet formation and provide a basis for innovations in materials and accelerator research.

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• HEMCP: Helmholtz Energy Materials Characterization Platform
  Under the coordination of the Forschungzentrum Jülich (FZJ), seven Helmholtz centers are working on construction of the joint Laboratory Platform HEMCP for analysis of new types of energy materials. In addition to HZDR and FZJ, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht für Material- und Küstenforschung (HZG), the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are also involved in the project.

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• HEMF: Helmholtz Energy Materials Foundry
  

  The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is coordinating construction of the Helmholtz Energy Materials Foundry HEMF. Materials for new technologies in energy conversion and energy storage are to be developed and improved at this international user platform. The HZB is supported in this regard by five project partners: the HZDR, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Forschungzentrum Jülich (FZJ), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht für Material- und Küstenforschung (HZG) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

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• ATHENA: Accelerator Technology HElmholtz iNfrAstructure
  Joint project of Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) and HZDR

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• HESEB: Helmholtz-SESAME Beamline
  The beamline HESEB will be built by the Helmholtz Centers DESY (Coordinator), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and the HZDR at the SESAME Synchrotron in Jordan. It will be the fifth beamline and will produce "soft" X-rays in the energy range between 70 eV and 1800 eV, which is suitable for investigating surfaces and interfaces observing certain chemical and electronic processes as well as for the non-destructive analysis of art objects.

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Within the frame of the Helmholtz Roadmap for Research Infrastructures, further outstanding large-scale facilities are to be developed and constructed. In the current version of the roadmap, the HZDR is involved in the following project:

Further information to be found in the current Helmholtz Association roadmap brochure (PDF)