From 26 to 30 August 2024, the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY and European XFEL will welcome more than 1,000 experts from all over the world to the 15th International Conference on Instrumentation of Synchrotron Radiation Sources (SRI) at the CCH Congress Centre in Hamburg. The second mayor and Hamburg's Senator for Science, Research and Equality, Katharina Fegebank, and Schleswig-Holstein's Minister for Education, Science, Research and Culture, Karin Prien, will open the event at the CCH on 27 August. The conference is regarded as the world's most important exchange forum for the further development of large X-ray radiation sources such as the European XFEL in Schenefeld near Hamburg or DESY in Hamburg-Bahrenfeld. The first conference was organised in Hamburg in 1982 and has since been held every three years at different locations around the world.

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Synchrotron light from particle accelerators has become an important tool for research. © European XFEL

Today, specially built storage rings such as Petra III in Hamburg or free-electron lasers (FEL) such as FLASH at DESY or the X-ray laser European XFEL in Schenefeld generate extremely intense X-ray light. These research facilities can be used to analyse the structures and properties of materials down to the atomic level. Due to the very short duration of the X-ray flashes, researchers can sometimes even ‘film’ what happens during chemical reactions or how catalysts work. The new methods discussed at the conference, such as the automation of sample changes, faster detectors or the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse data, can greatly accelerate the development of new materials or medicines.

The SRI conference offers insights into technological innovations and new measurement methods that are crucial for the development of future synchrotron light sources and X-ray lasers and their applications. “We are very proud to host the conference in Hamburg,” says Robert Feidenhans'l, one of the chairs of the International Advisory Committee for the SRI conference and former Managing Director of European XFEL.

“The personal discussions at the SRI conference are invaluable for scientific exchange and the development of new ideas,” emphasises his colleague Edgar Weckert, Director of Research with Photons at DESY until the end of 2023. “For example, to discussion the expansion of the PETRA III light source into the world's most powerful X-ray light source of its kind, PETRA IV.” The 60th anniversary of research with synchrotron radiation at DESY will be celebrated at the same time as the opening of the SRI.

In addition to dedicated presentations and tours to the synchrotron light sources at DESY and European XFEL on the first day, the conference will feature an industry exhibition where companies will present their products and services, which are often developed in close collaboration with research institutions. This can provide important impetus for other sectors such as medical or information technology. The conference thus offers a forum for transferring innovations from research to application.

Representatives of the media are cordially invited to attend the conference. Please register in advance with DESY press spokesman Thomas Zoufal. Email: presse@desy.de

Further information: www.sri2024.eu

E-mail address for queries about the programme and the venue: office@sri2024.eu