LFU:online

By the end of this course, students should have understood the fundamental working principles of synchrotrons and free-electron lasers. In addition, they have gained an insight into the diverse, interdisciplinary research activities and opportunities at a large-scale facility.

During the two-day excursion, we will visit the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen (Switzerland). After an introduction into the general research activities at PSI, we will get exclusive insights into the interior of the free-electron laser SwissFEL. We will follow the more than 700 m long acceleration path of the electrons, from the electron source to the undulators, and learn more about the individual components that ultimately lead to the emission of high-intensity X-rays. In addition, we will get to know the experimental setup at the Maloja endstation at SwissFEL which is used for fundamental research on atoms and molecules. In another tour, we learn more about the synchrotron Swiss Light Source (SLS) with its research equipment. The students will summarize their observations on specific parts in written reports. Before the excursion, a block event introduces the important working principles of synchrotrons and free-electron lasers and highlights selected applications of these large devices in physics and chemistry.

Basic knowledge about the structure of atoms and molecules

The event will probably take place as a block event within a week during the Easter break (probably 02.04.-05.04.), with the 02.04. and 03.04. as preparation dates and 04.04. and 05.04. as excursion days.