BESSY

Electron storage ring BESSY II
BESSY II produces bright light for energy and materials research
BESSY II is a third-generation synchrotron radiation source that produces extremely brilliant X-ray light. This light can be used by researchers around the world for their experiments. BESSY II is a universal tool to study a wide variety of samples, such as solar cells, solar hydrogen production materials, and quantum materials. But also proteins for the development of new drugs, meteorites and archaeological finds can be examined with the soft X-ray of BESSY II.

BESSY II is the soft X-ray synchrotron in Germany
BESSY II is unique in Germany with its focus on soft X-rays. The plant is complementary to PETRA III at DESY in Hamburg, which serves the hard X-ray spectrum. More than 1400 visiting researchers use BESSY II every year and appreciate the high reliability and stability of the photon source. The users can work on about 50 radiant tubes, which are equipped with state-of-the-art spectroscopy and microscopy methods. Internationally, BESSY II enjoys an excellent reputation for its method development.

Strong together through our partners
HZB has strong partners who are committed to the further development of BESSY II. The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) , the Max Planck Society , the Federal Institute for Materials Research (BAM) are strategic partners – as are numerous research groups at universities who contribute ideas.

Optimal conditions for time-resolved experiments
BESSY II also offers extremely interesting possibilities for time-resolved experiments. By developing the low-alpha mode, researchers can study materials with very short pulses of light (2 picoseconds). The femtoslicing source at BESSY II is the world’s most successful facility. HZB uses this many years of experience in time-resolved experimentation to realize a globally unique upgrade to BESSY II.

BESSY VSR : Short and long light pulses
By 2023, BESSY II will be converted to a variable pulse length storage ring. In the future, researchers will be able to choose between short light pulses (1.5 picoseconds) and longer pulses (15 picoseconds) for each experiment – without any loss of light intensity. There is no other synchrotron radiation source in the world.