Center for Free-Electron Laser Science

The Center for Free-Electron Laser Science is a novel joint enterprise of DESY , the Max Planck Society (MPG) , and the University of Hamburg. CFEL is designed to advance science with next generation light sources. The three partners join forces to explore structural changes of atoms, molecules, condensed, biological, or warm dense matter on femtosecond time scales. CFEL envisions uncovering the "dynamics of matter" by uniting expertise from various disciplines and research institutions into a new interdisciplinary and synergistic effort.

DESY is represented by the Experimental Research Division for Coherent Imaging of Henry Chapman and the CFEL Theory Division of Robin Santra. An additional Experimental Research Division is currently being established.

The Max Planck Society is represented by the Research Department for Structural Dynamics, funded in cooperation with the University of Hamburg. This comprises currently two experimental divisions:
The first division focuses on Condensed Matter Dynamics and is directed by Andrea Cavalleri. Within this division, an independent junior research group is lead by Adrian Cavalieri.
The Max Planck Research Group for Atomically Resolved Dynamics directed by Dwayne Miller represents the second division and will be complemented with an independent junior research group soon.
Finally an independent junior research group with a theoretical focus will complete the whole Research Department for Structural Dynamics in the near future.

Furthermore the Max Planck Society has established a Max Planck Advanced Study Group. This new concept for intersectional collaboration, with presently eight individual MPIs and a group of ten scientists and technicians at CFEL, shall support, enable and develop interdisciplinary MP-research at FELs, in atomic, molecular, plasma and biophysics as well as in chemistry.

The University of Hamburg is represented by an Advanced Study Group covering various research directions of the Physics department of the University , e.g. detector development, laser physics, ultra short X-ray physics and X-ray spectroscopy and dynamics.

In June 2009 the construction of the CFEL building started with the ground-breaking. The foundation stone was laid as a first milestone on September 29th 2009. The topping out ceremony is scheduled for July 2010 and the final completion of the building is planned for early fall 2011.

Future home of CFEL (architect's rendition, courtesy: hammeskrause architekten).

Funded by the State of Hamburg and the German Federal Government and designed by the architecture firm hammeskrause, the building has been planned according to the requirements and wishes of the research groups within the CFEL: the office layouts encourage communication and discussion, and the distribution of laboratories anticipate and support collaborations of groups working in biology, biochemistry, chemistry and physics, or in the use of advanced laser facilities.