Modern science extends the frontier of what is feasible further and further to extremes. Ever smaller structures are created, faster processes can be observed and increasingly complex systems can be analysed. Hence the demands placed on the "probing" devices become more extreme as well. This is particulary true for light, one of the main tools at the disposal of scientists. In this context the importance of synchrotron radiation (SR) for scientific research cannot be overstated. These light sources serve an ever growing SR community which largely contributes to our sound understanding of matter from the basics to its application. The mission of the institute is the development and operation of electron beam based light sources for research with synchrotron radiation.
HZB is taking up this challenge
Additionally HZB operates an accelerator for Proton Therapy of ocular melanomas and the Metrology Light Source for PTB.