1200 accelerator physicists from around the world meet in Dresden
The graduate students Jens Vöker and Christoph Kunert received a IPAC grant and presented their work on a student poster sesson.
HoBiCaT is a test facility for superconducting RF systems at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.Ecperts from HZB are jointing the accelarator conference.
The world’s largest particle accelerator conference is being held in Germany for the first time, with around 1200 scientists expected to visit the Saxon capital Dresden from 15 to 20 June. The 5th international conference IPAC is the place for experts to share the advancements they have made in developing particle accelerators and their components.
Experiments with accelerated particles have yielded countless valuable insights for science and mankind. They will forever be a part of modern research. Producing these coveted particles requires a reliable accelerator. The demands on these large machines are constantly growing as researchers wish to gain a deeper understanding of the structure and dynamics of materials, for example, using increasingly intense beams and ever shorter light pulses. Yet, materials research is just one aspect – the range of uses for particle accelerators is extremely wide and is reflected by the range of topics on the IPAC agenda: from future accelerator projects, to alternative concepts, to use in cancer therapy. The conference is being hosted by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, with its competence in accelerator physics, is supporting the local organization of the conference.
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is taking this opportunity to present the concept BESSY-VSR, the most important advancement on the electron storage ring BESSY II, to a large community of specialists. The HZB scientists have also summarized on a number of posters the progress in the development of a prototype for an energy recovery linac (ERL), BERLinPro, as well as in undulator development. Following the conference, 50 interested participants will be visiting the electron storage ring BESSY II, the Metrology Light Source (MLS) and the test laboratory for superconducting cavities (HoBiCaT) and learning about the experimental possibilities at HZB.
The international conference aims especially at promoting new, young talents in accelerator physics and giving them the opportunity to participate in this important exchange platform. In total, 90 students from around the world have received “IPAC Grants”. These grants cover their conference fees and allow them to participate in a junior scientist poster exhibition. From Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Christoph Kunert (Proton Therapy) and Jens Völker (Institute for Accelerator Physics) have each received a grant. In the conference’s local organization committee, Stefanie Kodalle (Communication) is supporting the smooth proceedings of the conference as Presentation Manager.
The accelerator conference also featured a free evening lecture for the interested public: On 15 June, Dresden scientist Professor Wolfgang Enghardt presented information about the novel cancer therapy with particle beams and about accelerators in medicine.
- Compact electron accelerator for treating PFAS-contaminated waterSo-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.
- Ernst Eckhard Koch Prize and Innovation Award on Synchrotron Radiation 2025At the 27th BESSY@HZB User Meeting, the Friends of HZB honoured the dissertation of Dr Enggar Pramanto Wibowo (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg). The Innovation Award on Synchrotron Radiation 2025 went to Prof. Tim Salditt (Georg-August-University Göttingen) and Professors Danny D. Jonigk and Maximilian Ackermann (both, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University).
- Synchrotron radiation sources: toolboxes for quantum technologiesSynchrotron radiation sources generate highly brilliant light pulses, ranging from infrared to hard X-rays, which can be used to gain deep insights into complex materials. An international team has now published an overview on synchrotron methods for the further development of quantum materials and technologies in the journal Advanced Functional Materials: Using concrete examples, they show how these unique tools can help to unlock the potential of quantum technologies such as quantum computing, overcome production barriers and pave the way for future breakthroughs.