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Enlightening Science

The European XFEL is a research facility currently under construction in the Hamburg area, Germany. From 2015 on, it will generate extremely intense X-ray flashes to 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. (More)

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. (More)

Research

The European XFEL will open up completely new areas of experimentation. Its X-ray flashes will allow to map atomic details of viruses, film chemical reactions and study the processes in the interior of planets. (More)

The Company

The European XFEL is being constructed by the European XFEL GmbH. For the construction and operation, the company collaborates closely with DESY and many other institutions.


News archive

  • 09 May 2012 | News
    Research at Hamburg’s deepest scientific workplace resumes | More
  • 29 February 2012 | Construction news
    Accelerator tunnel construction completed | More
  • 28 February 2012 | Feature
    The data challenge | More
  • 16 February 2012 | News
    Council Chair and Vice-Chair re-elected | More
  • 31 January 2012 | Feature
    “Sometimes more is better!” | More
  • 30 January 2012 | News
    680 scientists discuss free-electron lasers and photon science | More
  • 03 January 2012 | News
    New Managing and Administrative Director | More
  • European XFEL Newsletter
    Subscribe to our newsletter and we will keep you posted! | More

EventsArchive

  • 15-18 July 2012
    Science at FELs 2012 | More

Job Offers

  • Deadline: 31 May 2012
    Head of Finance and Controlling (f/m)

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Strong partners

The European XFEL and DESY collaborate on the construction, commissioning and operation of the facility. More

User Consortia

User consortia will be able to contribute to the European XFEL X-ray instruments. The First Call for Expressions of Interest in the formation of User Consortia has been issued on Monday, 21 March 2011.