X0 is located at the end of the UNILAC linear accelerator at GSI, where it delivers ion beams (typically, Ca to U) with energies up to 11.4 MeV/u. There, samples can be exposed to fluences ranging from one single ion up to 10¹³ ions/cm². The beamline is equipped with a semi-automated sample exchange system as well as the heavy ion microprobe.

The sample exchange system utilizes so-called magazines, which can automatically and successively expose up to 20 sample holders to the ion beam. Each holder accomodates samples with a maximum irradiation area of 46 mm x 46 mm. This semi-automation allows for high throughput for samples requiring lower ion fluences ( 1 – 1e9 ions/cm²) as well as consecutive irradiations with high fluences (1e10 – 1e13 ions/cm²) for the investigation of irradiation effects.

The system is commonly used for the irradiation of many different materials, including polymer foils, which are subsequently processed (etched) to fabricate etched ion-track membranes. These membranes are used in a wide range of nanoscience experiments, including fundamental research on membranes (such as single-pore sensing and nanofluidics) and nanowires (e.g., electrodeposition of nanostructures). Additionally, the membranes and nanowire assemblies have applications in energy-related fields, including catalysis and thermoelectrics.

MAT beam time schedule 2024

Beam time at GSI

Gratulation

Wir gratulieren Nils Ulrich herzlich zum erfolgreichen Abschluss seiner Promotion am 18. Oktober 2024 an der TU Darmstadt. In seiner Doktorarbeit beschäftigte sich Nils mit freistehenden, nanostrukturierten Kupferdrahtnetzwerken als Katalysatoren für die elektrochemische CO₂-Reduktion. Nils hat bereits vor fast 2 Jahren eine spannende neue Forschungsaufgabe in der Galvanikindustrie übernommen. Wir wünschen ihm Zufriedenheit und Erfolg.

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Congratulation

We congratulate Nils Ulrich on the successful completion of his PhD thesis on October 18, 2024, at TU Darmstadt. In his thesis project, Nils investigated free-standing, nanostructured copper wire networks as catalysts for electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Nils has already taken on an exciting new research position in the galvanic industry. We wish him continued satisfaction and success.

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Giersch Award für Maxim Saifulin

Dr. Maxim Saifulin wurde mit dem Preis der Giersch-Stiftung für herausragende Dissertationen 2024 ausgezeichnet. Er erhielt den Preis für seine Arbeit „Fast scintillating ZnO ceramics for relativistic heavy-ion beam diagnostics“. Die Arbeit basiert auf einem gemeinsamen Projekt der Abteilungen Strahldiagnostik und Materialforschung und befasste sich mit der Entwicklung eines ultraschnellen Keramikdetektors für ionisierende Strahlung auf der Basis von Zinkoxid-Nanokristallen. Aufgrund seiner hohen Strahlungsresistenz hat dieses Material ein erhebliches Potenzial für Anwendungen in Strahlkontrollsystemen an Schwerionenbeschleunigeranlagen.

Giersch Award for Maxim Saifulin

Dr. Maxim Saifulin was honored with the Giersch Foundation's Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis 2024. He received the prize for his work “Fast scintillating ZnO ceramics for relativistic heavy-ion beam diagnostics“. This research was a collaborative project between the Beam Diagnostic and Materials Research departments focusing on the development of an ultrafast ceramic detector for ionization radiation based on zinc oxide nanocrystals. Due to its high radiation resistance, this material holds considerable potential for applications in beam control systems at heavy ion accelerator facilities.