Molecular motion in tire rubber

Tyre components observed with incredible time resolution

04-Oct-2023 - Scientists have observed the molecular motion of rubber components typically used in automobile tires—polybutadiene and carbon black—with the world’s fastest time resolution. The study reveals a clear interaction between the two components on the atomic scale, paving the way towards improved ...

Molecule snapshot by explosion

Important step for filming chemical reactions

23-Feb-2022 - Exploding a photo subject in order to take its picture? An international research team at the world's largest X-ray laser, the European XFEL, used this “extreme” method to take pictures of complex molecules. With the ultra-bright X-ray flashes generated by the facility, the scientists were able ...

Snapshot of exploding oxygen

New experimental technique with reaction microscope allows “X-ray” of individual molecules

11-Jun-2020 - For more than 200 years, we have been using X-rays to look inside matter, and progressing to ever smaller structures – from crystals to nanoparticles. Now, within the framework of a larger international collaboration on the X-ray laser European XFEL in Schenefeld near Hamburg, physicists at ...

Rigid bonds enable new data storage technology

How new phase-change materials could lead to more efficient and faster data storage technologies

18-Jun-2019 - Phase-change materials are used in the latest generation of smartphones enabling higher storage densities and energy efficiency. Data is recorded by switching between glassy and crystalline material states by applying a heat pulse. However, to date it has not been possible to study what happens ...

European XFEL starts operation phase

06-Jul-2017 - The world’s largest X-ray laser, the European XFEL, has now entered its operation phase. Over the past few weeks, engineers and scientists at European XFEL and DESY have been working to ensure that the experiment stations are equipped with instruments and that the X-ray beam meets the parameters ...

Particle accelerator for the European XFEL X-ray laser operational

20-Apr-2017 - The international X-ray laser European XFEL has reached one of its final major milestones on the way to scientific user operation. DESY has successfully commissioned the particle accelerator, which drives the X-ray laser along its full length.It is the world’s largest superconducting linear ...

Tunnel construction completed: European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser reaches important milestone

18-Jun-2012 - The European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (EuropeanXFEL) reached an important milestone: the construction of the network of tunnels, which total nearly 5.8 kilometres in length and extend 3.4 kilometres from Hamburg-Bahrenfeld to Schenefeld in Schleswig-Holstein, is now finished. The 11 sectors of ...