21.03.2012

DESY and KEK intensify cooperation

First laboratory-wide workshop of both centres

DESY and the Japanese accelerator centre KEK want to intensify their long-standing cooperation. The directors of both centres see an enormous potential in the field of materials science and other applications of synchrotron radiation as well as in particle physics and accelerator technology.  This was made evident at the first joint workshop of both institutes, which covered the complete range of DESY and KEK research fields.

Science at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY is subdivided into three research fields – particle physics, accelerator development and photon science. In the latter field, particle accelerators are used as a special light source, e.g. to gain unique insights into new materials and biological samples, as proteins and viruses.

In the field of particle physics, both institutes look back on roughly 40 years of cooperation, including DESY’s current participation in the particle physics experiment Belle II at KEK. Both centres are also working together to enhance superconducting accelerator technologies.

“DESY and KEK have similar priorities, a similar structure and above all a similar research culture,” Prof. Helmut Dosch, Chair of the DESY Board of Directors, points out. Regular joint board meetings also have a tradition. 

The first laboratory-wide joint workshop explored additional fields of cooperation. Therefore, a high-ranking delegation of 26 members travelled to DESY in Hamburg, together with the KEK directorate. For one day, the representatives of both centres discussed additional cooperation possibilities.

Thus, manifold synergies in scientific cooperation can be put to use amongst others in the fields of photon science and detector development. Here, DESY and KEK have complementary strengths which make an excellent combination. A specialised photon science workshop will concretise cooperation in this field. Moreover, the laboratory-wide workshop is to take place regularly once a year, next time in spring 2013 in Japan.