Research Highlights: From the beginning until today
Gaining knowledge for more than 25 years
2018: “Twin Orbit User Test Week” is a big success
2018: Efficiency of metal-free photocatalysts increased
Polymerous carbon nitrides make for good catalysts in the production of solar hydrogen. Using the soft X-ray light from BESSY II, researchers discovered what role nanostructures play in the process. They increased the efficiency of these affordable metal-free materials by a factor of eleven. > to the news
2017: Optical properties of 3D graphene
An international team at BESSY II studied for the first time the optical properties of three-dimensional nanoporous graphene, and showed that oscillations in the charge density can be precisely controlled. The results could allow the development of highly sensitive chemical sensors. > to the news
2016: New data storage: magnetic patterns in thin films
Researchers have found a way to produce exotic magnetic patterns like monopoles or vortexes in thin magnetic layers. At BESSY II, they mapped the magnetic domains within an iron-nickel film. The material is considered a candidate for future magnetic storage media. > to the news
2016: Defects in chalcopyrite solar cells
Researchers achieved an important result at BESSY II for optimising thin-film solar cells made of copper, indium, gallium, sulphur and selenium. They observed defects arising during deposition and showed that many defects disappear again on their own during the transition from the copper-poor phase to the copper-rich phase. > to the news
2016: Testing hall EMIL Laboratory is opened at BESSY II
2016: Topping-out ceremony for bERLin-Pro
2015: Technical design study BESSY VSR
2015: Meteorites reveal details about our early solar system
Geologists studied samples of a pallasite meteorite at BESSY II. They identified tiny particles that had aligned themselves magnetically in an early phase of the solar system. The meteorite had thus saved data, so to speak, about our early solar system like a hard drive. > to the news
2014: What are the consequences of a root canal treatment?
On the BAM beamline at BESSY II, dentists analysed molar teeth before and after filing out the tooth root. Their findings: micro-cracks that had been detected in the tooth after filing were already visible beforehand and were not attributable to the treatment. > to the news
2014: New treatment concept against cancer
A Swedish team discovered a new treatment approach against cancer. It blocks the enzyme MTH1, which cancer cells need to survive – but normal cells don’t. They decrypted the enzyme structure at BESSY II and obtained valuable information for developing active substances that will block the enzyme. > to the news
2013: Organic electronics
Organic electronics are found in displays and allow flexible luminescent films and solar cells. Various organic molecules are used to join metal contacts onto the active organic layer. At BESSY II, a team discovered how the contact layers can be targetedly improved. > to the news
2013: Concept study for the upgrade from BESSY II to BESSY VSR
2012: Graphene on nickel
Graphene consists of carbon atoms connected in a single layer to form a flat hexagonal lattice. Graphene is also highly conductive. If graphene is deposited onto nickel, it develops distortions in the lattice. The electrons of graphene behave more like light and less like particles, studies at BESSY II have shown. This mechanism is of great interest for practical applications. > to the news
2012: Fungi as weather makers in the rainforest
In rainforests, organic vapours and salts are responsible for the formation of fog and clouds. A team at BESSY II studied aerosol particles from the Brazilian rainforest. They showed that these particles contain potassium salts, which fungi and plants exhale, and thus appear to influence the formation of clouds. > to the news
2012: Viking treasure from Oseberg
At BESSY II, Norwegian conservators studied a rapidly disintegrating wooden wagon from a Viking grave near the fjords of Oslo. It had been previously treated with alum, which had since greatly modified the wood fibres. The results are a help in finding new preservation methods for saving such cultural treasures. > to the news
2012: BESSY II is converted to top-up mode
2012: FEMTOSPEX upgrade
2011: Proof of first viruses in Earth’s history found in dinosaurs
In a 150-million-year-old dinosaur vertebra, researchers found the first signs of viruses in Earth’s history. Synchrotron holotomography at BESSY II showed pathogenic changes in the vertebra that are evidence of Paget’s disease of bone. It is triggered by measles-like viruses. > to the news
2011: Ultra-fast magnetic reversal
At BESSY II, a team observed a new effect in an alloy of gadolinium, iron and cobalt. Using ultrafast light pulses, they showed that the magnetic alignment of the iron atoms reverses five times faster than that of gadolinium. This results in short-term strong magnetisation, and could speed up data processing. > to the news
2011: The LINAC pre-accelerator is installed
2010: Deep insight into the details of a cell
With an X-ray microscope newly developed at HZB, individual cells of mammals can be non-destructively imaged in high-resolution 3D – even in their natural environment. This picture shows the cancer cell of a mouse with details like the cell nucleus and membrane channels. > to the news
2010: The MX Lab for Protein Crystallography is founded
2009: BESSY II is integrated into the Helmholtz Association and merges with the Hahn- Meitner-Institut to form the Helmholtz- Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie HZB
2005:First suggestions for BESSY VSR
2005: First femtoslicing experiment with ultra-short X-ray pulses
2003: The Nebra Sky Disk
The sky disc discovered in 1999 dates from the early Bronze Age. Researchers took a closer look at it at the BAMline at BESSY II. They found that three different gold alloys were used to shape the disc in several working steps. This also allowed conclusions to be drawn about the change in beliefs 4000 years ago.
