Synchrotron radiation sources: toolboxes for quantum technologies
A special look at the BESSY II experimental hall. © Volker Mai/HZB
The new edition of the Hitchhiker's Guide to synchrotron and FEL light sources for quantum technology has just been published, in print and online. © Anna Makarova/HZB
Synchrotron 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.
In quantum technologies, quantum physical principles such as superposition, interference and entanglement play a decisive role in their function. Components in quantum technology can perform calculations orders of magnitude more efficiently and encrypt information (quantum computing) or deliver unprecedented measurement accuracy in sensors. However, developing such components for practical use remains challenging because quantum systems are inherently sensitive to environmental disturbances, making precise control under normal conditions difficult. To make progress in this area and identify sources of error, it is essential that the materials and devices are thoroughly characterised and better understood.
Synchrotron and FEL radiation sources provide an ideal toolkit for this purpose. The available methods include non-destructive imaging, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, spectromicroscopy and investigations of electronic and magnetic nanostructures.
A team from HZB has written this overview together with colleagues from universities and other European synchrotron radiation sources.
Note:
The "Hitchhiker's Guide" to synchrotron and FEL light sources for quantum technology has been now printed and is available online ( www.helmholtz-berlin.de/srforqt ).
This brochure briefly introduces key methods and applications while offering a detailed directory of European experimental stations particularly suited for research in quantum technologies along with access modes and contacts.
"Hitchhiker's Guide" to synchrotron and FEL light sources for quantum technology
Anna Makarova, Oliver Rader, Kristiaan Temst, Jean Daillant (eds.)
- Nanosilver as an electrocatalyst for CO₂ reductionVia electrolysis, CO2 can be reduced to CO, a raw material for further chemical products such as fuels. Within the GreenQuest Project, an internation team led by HZB chemist Prashanth Menezes has now systematically investigated catalyst layers made of silver nanoparticles, varying both the size of the particles and their density. The best yield was achieved with nanoparticles with diameters of around 10 nm, which were loosely distributed. Furthermore, they demonstrated how the economic efficiency of the electrochemical cell can be enhanced by integrating an additional chemical reaction at the anode, enabling the simultaneous production of a valuable formic acid, hydrogen, and CO in one device.
- Spin waves inside a nano-oscillator imaged for the first timeFor the first time, researchers have directly imaged the magnetisation dynamics inside a spin Hall nano-oscillator — a nanoscale device that converts direct current into tunable microwave signals and is a promising building block for energy-efficient wireless communication and brain-inspired computing. A Swedish–German team led by the University of Gothenburg and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) achieved this using time-resolved scanning transmission X-ray microscopy at the MAXYMUS instrument at BESSY II. The results, now published in Advanced Materials, reveal spin-wave features that had escaped previous, indirect measurement techniques.
- Joint power instead of duplicate structures:Berlin’s research community is further advancing its research excellence by establishing a high-performance, cross-institutional infrastructure for data and AI. With a joint agreement signed on 18 September 2026, the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB) are paving the way for a joint data science and AI centre in Berlin-Dahlem and Adlershof.