What science is being done here?
We use synchrotron radiation to explore atomic properties of solid and liquid materials.
HZB’s research focuses on materials which could be key for a carbon-neutral society, such as quantum materials, battery materials, catalysts for producing green hydrogen, or novel solar cells.
BESSY II is also used by scientists coming from other research areas that travel from all over the world to do their experiments here. For example some of them investigate protein structures to find new active substances for medicines.Beamlines
These pipes are called beamlines.
Through these the synchrotron radiation travels from the storage ring to the experimental endstations, where scientists do their measurements.
The BESSY II experimental hall has about 50 beamlines.Storage ring tunnel
We are in the storage ring tunnel. Here we can find the magnetic devices that guide the electron beam and keep it on a circular path. As the electrons are steered around the storage ring, they emit synchrotron radiation that is used for experiments at the endstations.
The electrons at BESSY II have a “life time” of about 8-10 hours in the storage ring. During this time they travel a distance of one billion kilometers, which is 72 times the distance from earth to sun.
Transferline
Through this thin pipe electrons pass from the booster synchrotron, where they are accelerated to nearly the speed of light, to the storage ring.
Within the pipe is an ultra-high vacuum similar to that in space so that the electrons are not slowed down by collisions with air particles.
