15 years of European XFEL: Anniversary of the international agreement on the construction of European XFEL
15 years ago, on 30 November 2009, European countries set an example for international cooperation in science by founding the European XFEL. The facility, which was contractually agreed by ten countries in Hamburg at the time, has developed into one of the world's leading facilities for X-ray research.
European XFEL, one of the world's most powerful X-ray sources, is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the international treaty that laid the foundation for its creation this year. On 30 November 2009, ten[1] European countries jointly decided to implement the ambitious research project and create an internationally accessible research facility that would offer new, unparalleled research opportunities to scientists from all over the world.
“European XFEL has become a symbol of successful scientific collaboration across national borders,” says Thomas Feurer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Management Board of European XFEL.
The X-ray laser, whose first light beam was generated in 2017, has since enabled ground-breaking research worldwide. Researchers from disciplines like physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and materials science benefit now from the facility at seven instruments, whose intense X-ray light beam offers unique insights into the molecular structure of matter and dynamic electronic or chemical processes in real time. Thanks to its high beam power, molecular structures and chemical reactions can be observed with unrivalled precision and speed, far exceeding conventional technologies. Most recently, researchers were able to show that the European XFEL can generate record-breaking X-ray pulses in the attosecond range with terawatt power.[2]
The construction of the facility was supported by strong partnerships right from the start: the close collaboration with the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg played a decisive role in the realisation and operation of the European XFEL.
Twelve partner countries[3] are currently involved in European XFEL, investing in the further development of the facility and supporting the research. “This international cooperation strengthens Europe's role as an innovative research location and makes a significant contribution to solving global challenges,” emphasises Federico Boscherini, Chairman of the European XFEL Council, which decides on important issues concerning European XFEL and its facility. “European XFEL shows what is possible when Europe's scientific community works together,” adds Feurer.
[1] https://www.xfel.eu/news_and_events/news/index_eng.html?openDirectAnchor=1353&two_columns=0
[2] Scientists at the European XFEL and DESY produce high-power attosecond X-ray pulses at megahertz repetition rates.
https://www.xfel.eu/news_and_events/news/index_eng.html?openDirectAnchor=2522&two_columns=0
[3] Partner countries are currently (in alphabetical order): Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
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