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AN ELECTRON BEAMLINE AT THE European-XFEL

Project description

Scientific discovery with high-energy electron beams

The European XFEL, a cutting-edge X-ray Free Electron Laser that produces ultra-bright, short pulses of X-rays, is home to the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, offering unparalleled capabilities in scientific research. Building on this strength, the EU-funded ELBEX project aims to provide a high-energy electron beam for cutting-edge experiments. ELBEX will allow scientists to explore strong-field Quantum Electrodynamics (QED) and potentially reach the Schwinger limit for the first time. The facility will also enable the search for elusive particles and support innovative research in accelerator and detector science. Pending approval, ELBEX could transform the European research landscape, fostering global competitiveness and opening doors for new scientific discoveries.

Objective

One of the highlights of the European research infrastructure landscape is the world's most powerful X-ray-laser, the European XFEL. The ELBEX (Extracted Lepton Beam at the European XFEL) proposal builds on this strength and will set up new opportunities for European scientists and innovators, by providing an extracted high energy electron beam for experiments. With ELBEX we propose a pathfinder project to demonstrate the feasibility of such a facility at the European XFEL. This unique new possibility would strengthen the global competitiveness of the European Research Area and create opportunities for new user groups.

The high energy, high charge density and excellent quality of the electron beam, if brought into interaction with a strong laser beam, opens up the study of a range of scientific topics, most prominently, of strong field Quantum Electrodynamics (QED). For the first time, the Schwinger limit for the electromagnetic field strength, at which non-perturbative QED effects become relevant, could be reached experimentally in this facility. Studying the particles created in the photon beam dump opens up the possibility to search for feebly interacting particles, complementing current or planned experiments like FASER II or SHiP. In addition, the electron beam itself is at the centre of a range of highly relevant and ambitious experiments in the area of accelerator science and detector science.

Within the ELBEX project, the installation of a facility to extract an electron beam from the European XFEL using a fast kicker magnet and to transport it into a multi-purpose experimental area will be prepared. On the condition that a positive decision by the European XFEL council is reached to grant an extended 12-week XFEL shutdown, the installation of the ELBEX facility is an option.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-INFRA-2023-DEV-01

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Coordinator

DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESY
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 3 146 600,00
Address
NOTKESTRASSE 85
22607 HAMBURG
Germany

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Region
Hamburg Hamburg Hamburg
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 3 933 250,00

Participants (4)

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