Enlightening science
The European XFEL is a new research facility currently under construction in the Hamburg area in Germany.
From 2014 on, it will generate extremely intense X-ray flashes that will be used by researchers from all over the world.
The facility
The X-ray flashes will be produced in a 3.4-kilometre-long facility. Most of it will be housed in tunnels deep below ground. Three sites provide access to the tunnels and the experiment stations.
The generation of X-ray flashes
Initially, a particle accelerator brings electrons to almost the speed of light. These electrons are then made to follow a tight slalom course on which they emit intense flashes of X-ray radiation.
Research
The European XFEL will open up areas of experimentation that scientists could so far only dream about. Its X-ray flashes will allow to map atomic details of viruses, film chemical reactions and study the processes in the interior of planets.
The Company
The European XFEL will be constructed and operated by the European XFEL GmbH, a company of limited liability under German law which will be founded in the near future. Its staff will include up to 300 people. For the construction and operation, the company will collaborate closely with DESY and many other institutions.