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Particle Physics 2024
Highlights and Annual Report
In a time of significant challenges – financial constraints, geopolitical instabilities and heightened international competition – DESY faces a demanding landscape. Rising personnel costs, volatile energy prices and inflation-driven reductions in purchasing power put us under considerable pressure, and the priority is to lead DESY safely into the future. At the heart of our strategy stands the ambitious PETRA IV upgrade project. The conversion of PETRA III into a state of-the-art fourth generation X-ray light source is essential not only for DESY’s advancement but also for strengthening international research and securing Germany’s
technological sovereignty. As the world’s most advanced and brilliant X-ray source, PETRA IV will enable unprecedented precision in studying materials and biological macromolecules, paving the way for pioneering innovations, such as AI-driven material design. The DESY infrastructure focus also includes transformative projects. The new DESYUM visitor centre, whose construction is progressing according to plan, will soon be a public landmark and could become the iconic symbol of the Hamburg-Bahrenfeld campus. Through our Centre for Accelerator Science and Technology (CAST) and the DESY Innovation Factory, an integrated technology and start-up centre, we are expanding the “Bahrenfeld ecosystem” by linking research and innovation to drive technological and economic development. This is my last foreword for an annual report as the chairman of the DESY Board of Directors, and I would like to take this opportunity to make a few personal remarks: It has been an honour to serve in this role. I would like to thank all DESY employees and our national and international partners for their trust over the past 15 years, and
especially the Board members for their unique team spirit and constructive cooperation. Together, we have achieved numerous successes, including the remarkable construction of the European XFEL from 2009 to 2017, a masterpiece “made by DESY”, the establishment of the Astroparticle Physics Division, the strategic expansion of nanoscience and laser plasma research and the successful operation of PETRA III, FLASH and the European XFEL as Hamburg’s flagship photon sources. We are continuing a long tradition: Since the commissioning of its first particle accelerator in 1964, DESY has been one of the pioneers of research with synchrotron radiation worldwide. I reflect with pride on the growth of the two DESY sites in Hamburg and Zeuthen together with our partners. The new interdisciplinary research centres – CFEL, CSSB and CXNS for photon science, the recently opened Science Data Management Centre (SDMC) for astroparticle physics, the ongoing projects mentioned above as well as the
planned Wolfgang Pauli Centre for theoretical physics (WPC) and Centre for Molecular Water Science (CMWS) – are visionary initiatives that will contribute to strengthening Germany’s research landscape as a whole and the innovation regions of Hamburg and Zeuthen in particular. A highlight of my time at DESY has been the recruitment of renowned scientists. With the appointment of over 30 W3 professorships, including 15 women, and close collaborations with universities in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein,
Berlin, Brandenburg and beyond, we have enhanced our scientific network and supported our university partners’ excellence. Particularly noteworthy are the new members on the DESY Board of Directors in 2025: Beate Heinemann, Wim Leemans, Britta Redlich, Christian Stegmann and Arik Willner, bringing science, innovation and technology transfer expertise. With this exceptional team, DESY is well equipped to master future challenges. When I will hand over the helm to Beate Heinemann in
spring 2025, I will do so in a turbulent time not only for DESY. Research and social issues can no longer be addressed only on the national level. Sharing expertise and infrastructures and thereby strengthening international cooperations is becoming more important: Innovation is the key for our future. Therefore, the pending political decision for PETRA IV is crucial for DESY and our national and international partners and users, and I hope for swift action in the next period. I extend my best wishes to all DESY staff, hoping you will continue to lead this remarkable research centre into a bright future. Thank you all and also our partners for constant support and excellent cooperation over the years. I wish DESY continued success and that essential extra bit of luck.
Helmut Dosch
Chairman of the DESY Board of Directors
technological sovereignty. As the world’s most advanced and brilliant X-ray source, PETRA IV will enable unprecedented precision in studying materials and biological macromolecules, paving the way for pioneering innovations, such as AI-driven material design. The DESY infrastructure focus also includes transformative projects. The new DESYUM visitor centre, whose construction is progressing according to plan, will soon be a public landmark and could become the iconic symbol of the Hamburg-Bahrenfeld campus. Through our Centre for Accelerator Science and Technology (CAST) and the DESY Innovation Factory, an integrated technology and start-up centre, we are expanding the “Bahrenfeld ecosystem” by linking research and innovation to drive technological and economic development. This is my last foreword for an annual report as the chairman of the DESY Board of Directors, and I would like to take this opportunity to make a few personal remarks: It has been an honour to serve in this role. I would like to thank all DESY employees and our national and international partners for their trust over the past 15 years, and
especially the Board members for their unique team spirit and constructive cooperation. Together, we have achieved numerous successes, including the remarkable construction of the European XFEL from 2009 to 2017, a masterpiece “made by DESY”, the establishment of the Astroparticle Physics Division, the strategic expansion of nanoscience and laser plasma research and the successful operation of PETRA III, FLASH and the European XFEL as Hamburg’s flagship photon sources. We are continuing a long tradition: Since the commissioning of its first particle accelerator in 1964, DESY has been one of the pioneers of research with synchrotron radiation worldwide. I reflect with pride on the growth of the two DESY sites in Hamburg and Zeuthen together with our partners. The new interdisciplinary research centres – CFEL, CSSB and CXNS for photon science, the recently opened Science Data Management Centre (SDMC) for astroparticle physics, the ongoing projects mentioned above as well as the
planned Wolfgang Pauli Centre for theoretical physics (WPC) and Centre for Molecular Water Science (CMWS) – are visionary initiatives that will contribute to strengthening Germany’s research landscape as a whole and the innovation regions of Hamburg and Zeuthen in particular. A highlight of my time at DESY has been the recruitment of renowned scientists. With the appointment of over 30 W3 professorships, including 15 women, and close collaborations with universities in Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein,
Berlin, Brandenburg and beyond, we have enhanced our scientific network and supported our university partners’ excellence. Particularly noteworthy are the new members on the DESY Board of Directors in 2025: Beate Heinemann, Wim Leemans, Britta Redlich, Christian Stegmann and Arik Willner, bringing science, innovation and technology transfer expertise. With this exceptional team, DESY is well equipped to master future challenges. When I will hand over the helm to Beate Heinemann in
spring 2025, I will do so in a turbulent time not only for DESY. Research and social issues can no longer be addressed only on the national level. Sharing expertise and infrastructures and thereby strengthening international cooperations is becoming more important: Innovation is the key for our future. Therefore, the pending political decision for PETRA IV is crucial for DESY and our national and international partners and users, and I hope for swift action in the next period. I extend my best wishes to all DESY staff, hoping you will continue to lead this remarkable research centre into a bright future. Thank you all and also our partners for constant support and excellent cooperation over the years. I wish DESY continued success and that essential extra bit of luck.
Helmut Dosch
Chairman of the DESY Board of Directors