Large scale facilities for the smallest of particles
BER II and BESSY II
At the HZB users from all over the world can access two large scale facilities that provide in part unique experimental potential of international competitive calibre.
The storage ring BESSY II in Adlershof is at present the only third generation synchrotron radiation source in Germany. BESSY II emits extremely brilliant photon pulses ranging from the long wave terahertz region to hard X rays. Users can choose the energy range and the polarisation of the radiation. The forty six beam holes at the undulator, wiggler, and dipole sources offer users a many-faceted mix of beam holes and measuring sites with outstanding energy resolution. The combination of brilliance and photon pulses makes BESSY II the ideal microscope for space and time, allowing resolutions down to femtoseconds and picometres.
The profile of BESSY II is defined to a great degree by the users, now over 1300 in number. An important role is played by the scientists at the HZB, but also the institutional users like the Max Planck Society, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, and collaborating research groups. Consequently, as a result of the activities by the Physical Technical Institute PTB, BESSY II is the European radiation standard for the calibration of light sources and detectors.
The research reactor BER II delivers neutron beams for a wide range of scientific investigations, in particular for the materials sciences. Both thermal and cold neutrons are generated. These pass through several neutron guide tubes to the total of twenty four measuring sites. What is so special about the HZB in this respect are the unique environments for the test pieces. Positioned in the world’s most powerful magnets the test pieces can be exposed to low temperatures at the same time they are being irradiated with neutrons. This makes the Berlin reactor, in spite of its rather small delivery of 10 MW, an attractive neutron source for researchers from all over the world.
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