Delegation from Jordan visited the HZB
From left to right: Prof. Dr. Jan Lüning (HZB, design. GF), Dr. Roland Steitz (HZB), H.E. Dr. Khaled TOUKAN (Chairman of Jordan Atomic Energy Commission), Dr. Antje Vollmer (HZB), Mr Akram Hayjeneh (Jordan Embassy in Berlin), Dr. Samer Kahook (Manager of JRTR Jordan Atomic Energy Commission). © HZB/ K. Fuchs
The delegation visits the neutron hall in Berlin-Wannsee.
Dr. Khaled Toukan and Prof. Jan Lüning © HZB
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) will intensify its cooperation with Jordanian large-scale research facilities. This was agreed between Prof. Dr. Jan Lüning and representatives of a high-ranking Jordanian research delegation, which visited the HZB at the end of November 2018.
On 27 November 2018, H.E. Dr. Khaled Toukan, Chairman of the Jordanian Atomic Energy Commission and Director of the synchrotron radiation source SESAME, and Dr. Samer Kahook, Manager of the Jordanian Research and Training Reactor JRTR, visited the HZB. They were accompanied by Akram Hayajneh, 2nd Secretary of the Jordanian Embassy in Berlin.
The delegation was informed about the science, the user service and the operation of the neutron source BER II at the Lise-Meitner-Campus. Afterwards, the designated scientific director of the HZB, Prof. Dr. Jan Lüning, led them through the BESSY II experimental hall in Adlershof. In discussions, the delegation talked with representatives from the HZB about the perspectives of Jordan's large-scale research facilities. Another topic was possible support for the Jordanian research reactor against the background of the final shutdown of the BER II at the end of 2019.
HZB has been engaged in SESAME for many years
In addition, the long-standing cooperation between SESAME and HZB was to be further expanded, said the delegates. The synchrotron radiation source SESAME works with the electron accelerator of BESSY I. After decommissioning of that facility, the components were transferred to Jordan in 2002 and successfully installed in SESAME with the help of experts from Germany and other European countries. These components still run very reliably today, emphasized SESAME Director Dr. Khaled Toukan.
Training opportunities for Jordanian scientists
During the meeting, both sides agreed that there would be further training opportunities for Jordanian scientists at BESSY II.
The HZB is also involved in setting up a new beamline for soft X-ray light at SESAME. As reported, the Helmholtz Association will provide 3.5 million euros for this project. The HZB will build an APPLE II undulator for the new SESAME beamline, train the Jordanian team and support them with remote maintenance.
- Ultrafast dissociation of molecules studied at BESSY IIFor the first time, an international team has tracked at BESSY II how heavy molecules – in this case bromochloromethane – disintegrate into smaller fragments when they absorb X-ray light. Using a newly developed analytical method, they were able to visualise the ultrafast dynamics of this process. In this process, the X-ray photons trigger a "molecular catapult effect": light atomic groups are ejected first, similar to projectiles fired from a catapult, while the heavier atoms - bromine and chlorine - separate more slowly.
- Protons against cancer: New research beamline for innovative radiotherapiesTogether with the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, the HZB has set up a new beamline for preclinical research. It will enable experiments on biological samples on innovative radiation therapies with protons.
- Battery research with the HZB X-ray microscopeNew cathode materials are being developed to further increase the capacity of lithium batteries. Multilayer lithium-rich transition metal oxides (LRTMOs) offer particularly high energy density. However, their capacity decreases with each charging cycle due to structural and chemical changes. Using X-ray methods at BESSY II, teams from several Chinese research institutions have now investigated these changes for the first time with highest precision: at the unique X-ray microscope, they were able to observe morphological and structural developments on the nanometre scale and also clarify chemical changes.