The network Lasers4EU, which helps scientists gain access to laser lab setups across the continent, will now include five laser setups at DESY that specialise in ultrafast science. The setups are based on tabletop lasers that either are pulsed to access the attosecond timescale, or a billionth of a billionth of a second, or that generate secondary radiation that can attain ultrashort processes, or lasers that can emit simultaneously several different frequencies. DESY joins over two dozen other organisations that are part of Lasers4EU, including several Helmholtz research centres.

Lasers4EU is a European Union-funded network that supports scientists wanting to do research at laser lab setups in Europe. The network aims to provide coordinated and transnational access to users of 27 different laser installations, structure the European landscape of laser research, and increase human resources in regions where laser technologies are not as prominent. These installations comprise research goals and laboratories from high-powered laser research infrastructures to specialised tabletop setups. Lasers4EU is a follow-up network to Laserlab-Europe, which had served a similar function since 2009. Fellow Helmholtz research centres HZDR, GSI, and Helmholtz Institute Jena have been long-time members, as are infrastructures and universities in Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, Czechia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, and many others.

DESY adds five individual setups to the Lasers4EU portfolio. The installations come from the labs of DESY lead scientist Francesca Calegari, DESY interim director for photon science Franz Kärtner, and group leader of DESY Photonics Research and Innovation Christoph Heyl as well as DESY head of Lasers Science and Technology Ingmar Hartl. The lasers include two attosecond setups (one at the ultraviolet range and one in the soft X-ray range), a picosecond-scale laser for high-energy material science applications, and two femtosecond-scale lasers (one of which that can separate into several colours simultaneously side by side).

A kickoff meeting for Lasers4EU took place on 21 October 2024 at the laser facility FORTH in Heraklion, Greece. DESY lead scientist Francesca Calegari will represent DESY in the network’s general assembly. “To be adding these ultrafast capabilities to the portfolio of Lasers4EU is a fantastic opportunity, and we are looking forward to engaging with new users and building new collaborations,” Calegari says.

“Lasers4EU brings Europe’s laser labs with their myriad of capabilities together offering unmatched opportunities for photon science,” says acting photon science director Franz Kärtner. “For DESY to be a member is a great privilege and a fantastic opportunity to strengthen existing collaborations, build new connections and offer our laser systems to users across Europe and learn with them.”

Joining the network benefits not only photon science: the laser systems for plasma accelerators like the ones built at DESY can also gain from the partners in Lasers4EU. “With the new generation of laser plasma based particle accelerators, that we are pursuing at DESY, we are developing state-of-the-art infrastructure and new lasers that require highly skilled staff to develop and operate them, as well as carry out scientific experiments to advance the accelerator field,” says DESY accelerator director Wim Leemans. “Being a partner of Lasers4EU will enable access to our facilities and result in training of future technicians, engineers, and scientists for the broad European laser community, including for DESY.”

Learn more about Lasers4EU here.