Federal government invests millions in X-ray research in Göttingen!

Federal government invests millions in X-ray research in Göttingen!

On August 11, 2025, the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) announced significant financial support for research at the Institute for X-ray Physics at the University of Göttingen. This initiative includes funding of around one million euros, which will flow into various X-ray microscopy projects. The funding is intended not only to advance technological advances in imaging, but also to strengthen the scientific base in an area that is of great importance for both academic and industrial applications.

A central component of this funding is the further development of the X-ray microscope “Ginix”, which is operated at the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) in Hamburg. 350,000 euros are being made available for this project alone. The team around Prof. Dr. Tim Salditt and Dr. Markus Osterhoff is commissioned to increase the performance of this microscope. In addition, 650,000 euros will flow into a joint project with the European Synchrotron Radiation Source (ESRF) in Grenoble.

Projects to improve X-ray microscopy

As part of the new project financing, the project “Optics for whole-field imaging at Petra III and IV” is selected. This project aims to improve the focusing of X-rays in the nanometer range. This is particularly relevant for holographic and tomographic imaging techniques that require high magnification. X-ray microscopy uses X-rays with wavelengths between 10 nm and 1 pm, which enable shorter wavelengths than visible light radiation and thus potentially offer higher resolution. State-of-the-art X-ray microscopes achieve resolutions between 20 and 30 nm, using exclusively Fresnel zone plates for focusing that work based on diffraction, as materials for refracting this radiation in the required range are not available, such as Wikipedia explained.

The second project “Optimized Reconstruction for X-ray Connectomics” is also led by Salditt and Dr. Alexandra Pacureanu from the ESRF. The focus here is on the algorithmic representation of nervous tissue and the reconstruction of the connectome, which describes the entirety of the connections in an organism's nervous system. These innovative approaches could enable significant advances in neuroscience.

Applications of X-ray microscopy

The importance of X-ray microscopy extends across various disciplines. The “X-ray imaging with synchrotron radiation” department operates measuring stations at the PETRA III X-ray source and offers special techniques such as micro- and nanotomography as well as nanodiffraction. The areas of application include the decoding of complex biological structures and new synthetic materials. In addition, corrosion effects in implants or aging processes in batteries can be visualized in real time, which is crucial for the development of long-lasting products hereon.de clarified.

Another advantage of X-ray microscopy is that samples do not need to be stained with heavy metals or dried. This results in a dose in samples that is up to a factor of 10,000 lower than with conventional electron microscopes, which in turn minimizes the risk of imaging artifacts. The requirements for high-resolution imaging include intense radiation, which is provided via suitable synchrotron radiation sources.

With this comprehensive financial support and innovative research projects, the University of Göttingen has the potential to further expand its position as a pioneer in X-ray microscopy. The developments could not only enrich basic research, but also advance practical applications in industrial processes and medical research.