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.
- Green hydrogen: MXenes shows talent as catalyst for oxygen evolutionThe MXene class of materials has many talents. An international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne has now demonstrated that MXenes, properly functionalised, are excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolytic water splitting. They are more stable and efficient than the best metal oxide catalysts currently available. The team is now extensively characterising these MXene catalysts for water splitting at the Berlin X-ray source BESSY II and Soleil Synchrotron in France.
- Review on ocular particle therapy (OPT) by international expertsA team of leading experts in medical physics, physics and radiotherapy, including HZB physicist Prof. Andrea Denker and Charité medical physicist Dr Jens Heufelder, has published a review article on ocular particle therapy. The article appeared in the Red Journal, one of the most prestigious journals in the field. It outlines the special features of this form of eye therapy, explains the state of the art and current research priorities, provides recommendations for the delivery of radiotherapy and gives an outlook on future developments.
- "BESSY is of immense importance for Berlin"At the end of August, the Senator for Research, Health, and Long-Term Care, Dr Ina Czyborra, together with the State Secretary for Science, Dr Henry Marx, ended her summer tour with a visit to HZB in Adlershof. She publicly declared her political support for the new construction of BESSY III.