30.06.2011

Insight into the dynamics of the nano world

DESY participates in two new Virtual Institutes of the Helmholtz Association

On 1 July, the Helmholtz Association starts funding new Virtual Institutes. DESY is represented in two of these institutions that promote the cooperation of university and non-university scientists in a common theme project.

The Virtual Institute “In-Situ Nano-Imaging of Biological and Chemical Processes” is launched under the aegis of DESY. Within the framework of this institute, the expertise of X-ray microscopy, biology and chemistry is brought together to develop in-situ imaging methods of biological and chemical processes for the X-ray microscopes PETRA III, FLASH and later the European XFEL.

In nano science, chemistry and life sciences, there is a growing demand for high-resolution imaging processes at the micro- and nanometre scale. “The physical, chemical and biological properties of an object are strongly related to its structure and chemistry,” says DESY research director Professor Edgar Weckert. “Therefore, the structural analysis is fundamental to understand chemical and biological processes that make an important contribution to health, environment and energy topics.” Imaging methods with X-ray radiation are particularly suitable because they provide a chemical and structural contrast and at the same time enable a non-destructive view into an object or a special sample environment. DESY´s extremely brilliant light sources PETRA III and FLASH are especially appropriate for X-ray microscopy.

The nano-imaging Virtual Institute will be funded for a period of five years with a total of 2.5 million Euros from the Impulse and Networking Fund of the Helmholtz Association. Apart from DESY, participating institutions are KIT and the universities of Dresden, Göttingen and Heidelberg

Moreover, DESY is participating in the Virtual Institute “Dynamic Pathways in Multidimensional Landscapes”, funded by the Helmholtz Association for a period of four years with a total of 2 million Euros. This institute is coordinated by HZB and has several national and international partners, including SLAC (United States). With the help of accelerator-based X-ray sources of both participating Helmholtz centres, it will analyse the behaviour of complex materials in dependence of energy, space and time. The functionality that is generated may be used or even influenced, for example for energy production and transformation, or for data storage and communication.