Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
DESY is one of the world’s leading accelerator centers, located in Bahrenfeld, west of Hamburg, with a second site in Zeuthen near Berlin. The laboratory has a rich history in particle physics, highlighted by the HERA accelerator, the world’s only electron-proton collider. HERA enabled pioneering experiments such as H1 and ZEUS, which probed the internal structure of protons, measured the behavior of quarks and gluons, and provided precise tests of the electroweak theory. These discoveries have had a lasting impact on our understanding of the fundamental constituents of matter and laid the foundation for modern particle physics research.
DESY continues to push the frontiers of science with its unique accelerators and detectors. Its facilities generate the world’s most intense X-ray light and accelerate particles to record energies. DESY hosts major particle physics experiments, including two of the largest ATLAS and CMS groups, a Belle II group, as well as smaller on-site experiments such as ALPS II. Photon science is increasingly prominent, with facilities like PETRA III, European XFEL, CFEL, and plasma wakefield research at FLASH (Forward).
DESY also provides extensive computing resources, serving as a Tier-2 center for both ATLAS and CMS, and offering long-standing expertise in services such as dCache. This combination of cutting-edge facilities, computing power, and scientific expertise attracts more than 3,000 guest researchers from over 40 countries each year.
© DESY/Reimo Schaaf
