GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung

GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung operates a unique accelerator for heavy ions. Researchers from around the world use this facility for experiments that help them make fascinating discoveries in basic research. In addition, they continually develop new and impressive applications.

Interested high school students had the opportunity to spend a day in April at the GSI/FAIR campus to learn more about tumor therapy with ion beams. The event was organized by scientists from the Biophysics research department. All Particle Therapy Masterclasses (PTMCs) are coordinated by GSI/FAIR as part of the International Masterclasses of the IPPOG (International Particle Physics Outreach Group), of which GSI is an associate member.



Professor Marek Pfützner from the University of Warsaw, Poland, receives the Smoluchowski-Warburg Prize 2025
Professor Marek Pfützner from the University of Warsaw, Poland, receives the Smoluchowski-Warburg Prize 2025 “for his breakthrough discovery of two-proton radioactivity, the least known nuclear decay mode, predicted more than 40 years before”. Pfützner is a long-standing scientific collaboration partner of GSI/FAIR. The experiments leading to the discovery were largely carried out at the GSI/FAIR fragment separator FRS.



FAIR – the future accelerator facility

In the next few years the new international accelerator facility FAIR, one of the largest research projects worldwide, will be erected at GSI. At FAIR an unprecedented variety of experiments will be possible. Thereby physicists from all around the world will be able to gain new insights into the structure of matter and the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to the present.
Learn more about FAIR: GSI about FAIR or FAIR web page

Cancer Treatment with Ion Beams

GSI is the birthplace of a new form of cancer treatment. This development was the result of many years of research in conjunction with GSI’s large ion-beam accelerator system. The advantage of this new treatment modality is that the ion beam selectively damages tumor tissues while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues. More...

The Creation of New Elements

Chemical elements are produced in stars and stellar explosions. Elements are the building blocks of all materials that surround us – including every atom of our bodies. The universe is also home to a large number of atoms that do not occur on earth. One of the key tasks of the researchers at GSI is to attempt to create previously unknown elements. More...