National projects led by DESY designated as significant for the country

World's Most Powerful X-ray Microscope to be Built in Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany, is set to become a global hub for scientific innovation with the construction of Petra IV, the world's most powerful X-ray microscope. Scheduled for commissioning in 2026, this cutting-edge instrument will revolutionise molecular analysis, offering unprecedented resolution and speed.

Petra IV will be based on the DESY campus, joining the ranks of the International Neutrino Telescope IceCube-Gen2, which has been operational at the South Pole since 2010. The microscope's construction is expected to strengthen Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld as an innovation hub, fostering collaboration and discovery.

Beate Heinemann, chair of the DESY directorate, expressed her excitement about the project, stating that Petra IV offers immense opportunities for top research and innovation. Maryam Blumenthal, Hamburg's Senator for Science, Research, and Equality, shares this sentiment, believing the project will enable researchers in Hamburg to find solutions to major challenges of our time.

Petra IV will enable highly precise analyses of molecular structures in the nanorange, making it invaluable in fields such as bio- and quantum technologies, sustainable materials and new batteries, microelectronics, and materials research. The microscope's four-dimensional imaging capabilities, including temporal processes under realistic conditions, further expand its potential applications.

As Europe strives for technological and data sovereignty, Petra IV is considered crucial, particularly in competition with the USA and China. Its construction is expected to bolster Hamburg's position as a leading city in scientific research and innovation.

For more information about Petra IV, please visit petra4.desy.de. For updates on the DESY campus and other scientific initiatives in Hamburg, visit desy.de. To learn more about Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld, visit sciencecity.hamburg.