DESY and the University of Hamburg have jointly inaugurated the Wolfgang Pauli Centre (WPC) for theoretical physics on Wednesday in Hamburg. The centre will promote and expand the joint research activities. “Hamburg is a beacon of theoretical physics with international radiance,” emphasised the chairman of DESY´s board of directors, Prof. Helmut Dosch. “With the Wolfgang Pauli Centre we're extending this fruitful cooperation.”

The new research and education centre is part of the strategic Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research (PIER) between the university and DESY. “The University of Hamburg´s strategy of strengthening the cooperation with non-university research institutions comes to life here,” stressed the president of the University of Hamburg, Prof. Dieter Lenzen. “With the inauguration of the Wolfgang Pauli Centre we continue the successful cooperation within PIER, especially in the fields of research and education.”

The centre will extend the traditionally strong cooperation in theoretical high-energy physics to the fields of solid-state physics and quantum optics. “The Wolfgang Pauli Centre will stimulate the scholarly exchange between the different fields of theoretical physics research,” emphasised WPC spokesman Prof. Wilfried Buchmüller. “It's at the interfaces of the different disciplines where new ideas often thrive.” About 160 scientists will work under the roof of the centre.

In addition to research, the training of young researchers is a key goal of the WPC. It is closely connected to the study programmes of the university’s physics department and designed to lead the students to research projects with thematic reference to the Wolfgang Pauli Centre. In addition, it will also enhance and improve the teaching curriculum for doctoral students with top-class guest scientists. Moreover, there will be an annual Wolfgang Pauli Lecture which will be held by young scientists.

Wolfgang Pauli was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1945 for his work on the exclusion principle which he elaborated in his Hamburg years from 1923 to 1928. “His name stands for brilliant research in many fields of theoretical physics, including quantum theory, particle physics, theory of relativity and cosmology,” Buchmüller emphasises. “The Wolfgang Pauli Centre will carry on the tradition of excellent and broad research in the field of theoretical physics in Hamburg. This will make Hamburg a centre of attraction for outstanding students and young scientists.”