Construction of a new research facility for Science City

The Hamburg Fundamental Interactions Laboratory (HAFUN) is set to become a new "hub for internationally visible top-level research" in Science City Bahrenfeld, Hamburg. The laboratory, which is expected to be a significant addition to the city's research landscape, will focus on the fields of particle and astroparticle physics, nonlinear quantum optics, and gravitational wave research.

HAFUN, which is anticipated to serve as a workplace and research hub for the Hamburg Excellence Cluster Quantum Universe, will provide space for around 200 scientists. The Hamburg Senate has approved the construction of HAFUN and included it in the 2025/26 budget, with federal funding for the project exceeding 34 million euros.

The groundbreaking ceremony for HAFUN has already taken place, marking the start of construction. Once completed, the laboratory will be directly connected to other research institutions such as DESY (the German Electron Synchrotron) and the physics building of the University of Hamburg (UHH), fostering cross-institutional collaboration in the field of research.

Science City Bahrenfeld is expanding with a new building for the physics department of Hamburg University. This expansion, coupled with the construction of HAFUN, is expected to further strengthen the city's position as a leading hub for scientific research.

The goal of HAFUN is to use state-of-the-art infrastructure to answer central questions in particle and astroparticle physics and gain new insights into the universe. The laboratory's primary focus is on furthering scientific excellence, innovation, and knowledge transfer in areas like particle physics and accelerator technology.

In addition to its role in particle physics research, HAFUN will also serve as an instrument for cosmic radiation studies. This will contribute to the understanding of high-energy cosmic particles and their impact on Earth's atmosphere and climate.

HAFUN is not explicitly stated to have a specific focus on any particular field of physics, nor is it mentioned to serve as a workplace and research hub for any specific Excellence Cluster other than the Quantum Universe. However, the collaboration between HAFUN, DESY, and UHH is expected to facilitate cross-institutional cooperation and create another "hub for internationally visible top-level research" in Hamburg.

Apart from HAFUN, Science City Bahrenfeld is also home to tecHHub Hamburg, a new initiative for connected research for the future. This initiative aims to promote collaboration between academia, industry, and start-ups, fostering innovation and knowledge transfer in various fields.

With the addition of HAFUN, Science City Bahrenfeld is set to become a unique research infrastructure in Germany focused on fundamental interactions. The collaboration among these institutions is expected to produce cutting-edge research results and foster international cooperation in fundamental physics.