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.

What is PETRA IV?

The new large-scale research facility PETRA IV designed by DESY is a 4D X-ray microscope that will surpass everything that has gone before in terms of brilliance and performance. PETRA IV is an ultra-modern, fourth-generation synchrotron radiation source that will be created by converting the existing PETRA III facility. Electrons travel at almost the speed of light in the 2.3 kilometre long accelerator ring. 

With a circumference of a good two kilometres, PETRA IV offers decisive advantages when it comes to focusing X-rays. The emittance - a measure of how strongly the generated X-rays can be focussed - will be exceptionally low.

PETRA IV: A new era in materials and drug research

PETRA IV follows the principle of ‘Observe, Design, and Control’ - a methodology that combines basic and applied research: 

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.

The project team

The conversion of PETRA III into a fourth-generation X-ray light source is being led by an experienced team:

• Wim Leemans, DESY Director for the Accelerator Division and Authorised Representative of the Directorate for PETRA IV
• Harald Reichert, physicist and former research director of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), now PETRA IV project leader
• Ricardo Bartolini, DESY scientist and project manager for the PETRA IV accelerator

Together they tackle the technically demanding tasks.

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.