XFEL: Lighthouse: Visit Laserday on 8 February

Marvel, enjoy, join in and learn - the ‘Laserday’ on 8 February around the Lighthouse visitor center of the European XFEL in Schenefeld is a ‘small open day’ showcasing the full range of the facility. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., there will be activities for the whole family: talks by laser scientists, hands-on experiments on the properties of the focussed light beam and guided tours of the interactive science exhibition in the Lighthouse and the underground experimental hall of the research laser. The optical highlight will be the laser show over the plaza of the European XFEL Campus from dusk onwards. Admission is free - only those wishing to take advantage of the snacks on offer will need to pack their wallets.

‘We're all a bit excited. The programme at the Lighthouse has been going strong since November and many visitors have already explored the visitor centre - but Laser Day is going to be really big. We're expecting several hundred people on campus,’ says Arwen Cross. The Australian coordinates the activities at the Lighthouse and, together with her colleagues, has come up with a programme designed to appeal to different groups: ‘The laser show, the guided tours of the exhibition and the hands-on experiments are real family activities for children from primary school age and even younger. Children aged 10 and over and adults can take part in the guided tours of the underground experiment hall to the laser experiment stations. The lectures on the topic of lasers, which are given by scientists from the European XFEL and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, are also interesting for people with more prior knowledge,’ says Cross.

In addition, all guests will have one last opportunity to experience the spectacularly illuminated wire sculptures of the ‘Strahlzeit’ exhibition by the ‘Well Wired Team’. 

The laser show with science-inspired motifs above the plaza will be designed by Pinneberg light artist Florian Sieck. Sieck knows the research facility from the ‘Nacht des Wissens’ in Hamburg, where he once staged a laser show together with European XFEL. To ensure that the light is clearly visible from the start of the show at dusk, the plaza will be shrouded in artificial fog.

 

The program:

European XFEL Laserday

Time: Saturday, 8 February 2025, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m
Place: Campus European XFEL,  Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld

Admission is free 

3 to 7 p.m.:

• Regular guided tours of the underground experimental hall
• Regular guided tours of the interactive Lighthouse exhibition
• “Strahlzeit” exhibition

 3 to 5 p.m. :

• Hands-on experiments by the European XFEL Lasers Group for the whole family

3:15 to 4 p.m. :

• Lecture: Dr. Maximilian Lederer (Senior Scientist, European XFEL): “History of the laser: A universal tool of science, technology and medicine”

4.30 to 5 p.m. :

• Lecture Dr. Toma Toncian (Head of the HIBEF project at the European XFEL, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf): “Fusion, Plasma and Planets: Powerful lasers in research”

From dusk onwards:

• Lasershow

 

How guests can reach the European XFEL Campus

Although there are some free parking spaces available directly on the campus grounds at Holzkoppel 4 in Schenefeld, the organization team recommends arriving by bus or bike. Bicycle racks are available on the campus, some of which are covered. From the Schenefeld bus stops “Aneken” (line 285, for example from Iserbrook S-Bahn station) and “Busbetriebshof” (also line 186) on the corner of Holzkoppel, it is only a few steps to the campus.