Accelerate progress

Scientists from all over the world will conduct their experiments at PETRA IV, which are only possible at this facility globally. A fundamentally new view of the world around us is emerging. This will lead to a new quality of approaches to solving society's pressing questions.

PETRA IV will enable improved methods for studying complex processes in nature and technology in real time and under realistic operating conditions.

For the first time, researchers will then be able to illuminate individual objects on the nanometre scale and record the structure, energetics and function of molecular units in materials and cells under realistic conditions. PETRA IV can thus contribute to the development of materials and technologies of the future. This promises new perspectives for basic research and high technology.

PETRA IV: A new era in materials and drug discovery

In research, the boundary between basic and applied research is often very clear. The principle of "observe, design and control" breaks down this boundary. This new paradigm is about using accumulated knowledge in a targeted way to actively design and control systems. PETRA IV will provide high-precision analytics for the ‘observation, design, and control’ of matter and processes - from atomic dimensions to the macroscopic world and on time scales from nanoseconds to hours.

Observe:
Investigation of the relationship between the structure and function of materials and processes in their natural environment.

Design:
The insights gained enable the targeted development of new materials, drugs, and processes.

Control:
Precise control of these processes enables innovative technologies and medical advancements.

Examples include nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery that spare healthy cells, as well as self-healing materials that close cracks independently through external stimuli — such as in concrete or aircraft components.

Harald Reichert, physicist and former research director of the European Synchrotron Radiation Source (ESRF), has taken on the role of PETRA IV project manager at DESY. The conversion of PETRA III into a fourth-generation X-ray light source is being carried out with him and with Riccardo Bartolini, the project manager for the PETRA IV accelerator. Together, Reichert and DESY scientist Bartolini tackle the technically challenging task.

Due to its circumference in excess of two kilometers, PETRA IV will have advantages in terms of so-called emittance. This physical quantity is the product of the cross-section and divergence of the particle bunches in an accelerator and is a measure of how strongly the generated X-rays can be focussed. 

Research campus of the future

DESY’s research infrastructure already offers unique opportunities for investigation and experimentation to achieve advances in innovation, technology and medicine. Numerous university institutes and research facilities have settled on the campus. In addition, further new facilities, centres and research buildings are to be built around the DESY campus by 2040.

PETRA IV will be a central large-scale research facility in the future Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld.

Partners 

Accelerating careers

Some 3000 DESY employees work at DESY in a wide variety of occupations. Even now, DESY offers a large number of challenging scientific and non-scientific positions with very good career opportunities in connection with implementing the large-scale PETRA IV project. Please feel free to apply online.