World's biggest X-ray laser generates first light

Berlin: The world's biggest X-ray laser has generated its first beam of light, that will allow scientists to get a glimpse of new materials, drugs and chemical reactions at the atomic level. The 3.4-kilometre-long European XFEL, most of which is located in underground tunnels in Germany, will usher a new era of European research, according to scientists.

The X-ray light has a wavelength of 0.8 nanometre - about 500 times shorter than that of visible light. At first lasing, the laser had a repetition rate of one pulse per second, which will later increase to 27,000 per second.

The achievable laser light wavelength corresponds to the size of an atom, meaning that the X-rays can be used to make pictures and films of the nanocosmos at atomic resolution - such as of biomolecules, from which better understanding of the basis of illnesses or the development of new therapies could be developed.

"This is an important moment that our partners and we have worked towards for many years. The European XFEL has generated its first X-ray laser light," said Robert Feidenhans'l, Managing Director of the European XFEL.

"The facility, to which many countries around the world contributed know-how and components, has passed its first big test with flying colours," said Feidenhans'l. "We can now begin to direct the X-ray flashes with special mirrors through the last tunnel section into the experiment hall, and then step by step start the commissioning of the experiment stations," he added.