BESSY II – From Pico to Femto – time resolved studies at BESSY II

180 scientists listened to the lectures. <span>The aim of the dialogue is to identify future scientific fields as well as expectations, needs and requirements</span> for BESSY II.

180 scientists listened to the lectures. The aim of the dialogue is to identify future scientific fields as well as expectations, needs and requirements for BESSY II.

180 scientists attended the workshop on time resolved studies

From 26 to 27 January 2015, at the HZB workshop “From Pico to Femto”, more than 180 scientists discussed the advantages of conducting measurements on different time scales. With BESSY VSR, HZB is looking forward to perform a so-far unique upgrade to an electron storage ring: When complete, BESSY II will offer a flexible pulse duration of the useful light without diminishing the brilliancy of the light pulses.

Which specific areas of research could benefit from this was presented by speakers from university and non-university research establishments over two days in parallel sessions. Thematic blocks addressed in the lectures included magnetism, energy research, biosystems, and catalysis research.

Presently, BESSY II already allows measurement on different time scales, with methods such as low-alpha mode and femtoslicing available for user experiments. As it stands, however, this is limited because the short pulses come at the cost of light intensity.

“We were especially pleased to see so many researchers who have not yet experimented at BESSY II taking part in our workshop,” says organizer Dr. Antje Vollmer. About one third of the participants who followed the lectures in the full BESSY auditorium are potential new users of the facility.
The participants also expressed their own future needs for the machine and sampling environment. The results of the discussions were recorded and will be incorporated into the future plans for the BESSY VSR upgrade project.

The event was part of a series of foresight workshops HZB will be holding as a way to communicate closely with the user community about their research interests and needs. Already this year, more workshops will be held to address further questions regarding research at the photon source BESSY II.

You can read the abstracts of the lectures in the workshop booklet:  booklet

(sz)

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • AI re-examines dinosaur footprints
    Science Highlight
    27.01.2026
    AI re-examines dinosaur footprints
    For decades, paleontologists have pondered over mysterious three-toed dinosaur footprints. Were they left by fierce carnivores, gentle plant-eaters, or even early birds? Now, an international team has used artificial intelligence to tackle the problem—creating a free app that readily lets anyone decipher the past.
  • A record year for our living lab for BIPV
    News
    22.01.2026
    A record year for our living lab for BIPV
    In 2025, our solar facade in Berlin-Adlershof generated more electricity than in any of the previous four years of operation.
  • Compact electron accelerator for treating PFAS-contaminated water
    Science Highlight
    19.01.2026
    Compact electron accelerator for treating PFAS-contaminated water
    So-called forever chemicals or PFAS compounds are a growing environmental problem. An innovative approach to treating PFAS-contaminated water and soil now comes from accelerator physics: high-energy electrons can break down PFAS molecules into harmless components through a process called radiolysis. A recent study published in PLOS One shows that an accelerator developed at HZB, based on a SRF photoinjector, can provide the necessary electron beam.