Scientific instrument development

Department Scientific Equipment Development (WI-HWG)

The department Scientific Equipment Development (WI-HWG) comprises four individual departments that provide centralised scientific and technical support at both research sites of HZB (WCRC, LMC): Sample Environment, Technical Design, Manufacturing and Electronics. The four departments work together on many projects. Manufacturing and development processes are closely interlinked. The Head of Department, Dr. Klaus Kiefer, assumes the coordination and contact function for cross-departmental production and development projects.

The joint tasks and services of the main department with regard to the provision of scientific equipment and test facilities are:

Consultancy & conception
Calculation & simulation
Design, production & order coordination
Assembly, control & operation
Commissioning & functional testing
Maintenance & repair

The main department consists of four subdivisions, all of which contribute personnel to WI-HWG:

1) Sample Environment WI-ASE

The Sample Environment department supports the experiments at BESSY II with a variety of sample environments (magnetic fields, low and high temperatures, high pressures, gas loading, etc.) and operates a number of user laboratories and equipment that can be booked via booking calendars:

Staff members of WI-ASE

2) Technical Design WI-ATD

The Technical Design department is responsible for the needs of all HZB departments with regard to design, development, calculation, procurement and technical consulting.

Staff members of WI-ATD

3) Manufacturing AMAN

The Manufacturing department provides a centralised service for the mechanical production and repair of workpieces, assemblies and research equipment. In Adlershof and Wannsee, we have highly specialised production methods at our disposal, such as CNC turning and milling, laser beam and water jet cutting.

Staff members of WI-AMAN

4) Electronics WI-AEL

The Electronics department is the central service responsible for the development, production and repair of experimental electronic devices and assemblies.

Staff members of WI-AEL

Cross-departmental projects within the WI-HWG department (examples):

1) Helium-Management for HZB

The He-management instruments listed below were planned, developed and built in close co-operation between the sample environment, design, production and electronics.

Helium level meter: for measuring and remote transmission of the helium level of transport containers and cryostats.
Gas meter module: Measuring device to digitally record and wirelessly transmit the pressure, temperature and flow of helium gas.
Coordinator module: Device for converting the radio signals from helium level gauges and gas meters from a radio network to a local wired network.
He gas flow heater: Heating of the ultra-cold helium gas during filling processes of cryostats to protect the downstream gas meters from damage and to prevent the helium pipework from ‘icing up’.
Electronic He-transfer unit: electronics for automating the helium filling process.
Ball flow meter: mechanical component used by users to visually record the helium gas flow rate during the filling of cryostats.

2) Tomo-Cryo at the BAMline of BESSY II

In cooperation with the TU Dresden, the WI-HWG has developed and built a tomograph for in-operando gas adsorption studies under precise temperature control. This is used regularly at the BAMline.

The cryo-tomograph enables time-resolved imaging methods for in-situ X-ray studies of mass transfer in porous solids and batteries during the charging and discharging process.
The cryo-tomograph enables free rotation of the sample in the beam window with a spatial stability of the sample position of less than 0.01 mm. The associated challenges in the cryogenic environment require novel design concepts and a high degree of manufacturing precision.