The Helmholtz Research Field Structure of Matter explores the constituent parts of matter and the forces acting between them over completely different orders of magnitude, from the smallest units, elementary particles, to the largest structures in the universe. The work not only focuses on individual particles, but also on complex phenomena in solids and liquids that form as a result of the interactions taking place between myriads of atoms. Basic research also helps to open up the path to insights that facilitate the development of novel materials with tailor-made electronic, mechanical or thermal properties. A particular strength of Helmholtz research comes into play in this research field: the operation and utilisation of large-scale facilities and complex infrastructures for research purposes. Whether particle accelerators, synchrotron radiation or neutron sources – the Helmholtz Association makes big, sometimes globally unique scientific infrastructures available that are used by numerous researchers from home and abroad. With the planned X-ray laser, European XFEL, being built at the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY in European collaboration, an X-ray source is being created whose maximum capacity is ten billion times higher than all previously built facilities.

A further large-scale facility is being established at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt. The “Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research” FAIR is an accelerator facility of the next generation that will supply ion beams of a previously unattained intensity and very high energies. With its alliances, the Helmholtz Association has created new structures in order to offer the very best research conditions through strong networking. Hence, the Research Field Structure of Matter successfully continued two Helmholtz Alliances in 2008, namely, “Physics at the Terascale” and “Cosmic Matter in the Laboratory,” the latter beginning with a kick-off event held in April. The network “Physics at the Terascale” brings together Germany’s top-rate scientists to do research at the limits of the achievable accelerator energy. The aim is to endow particle physics in Germany with an ever stronger profile and ever more influence in an increasingly global research landscape.

Thus, the particle physicists from two Helmholtz Centres, the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and colleagues from a total of 17 universities and the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich have joined forces. With the second Alliance “Cosmic Matter in the Laboratory”, a new institute, “ExreMe Matter Institute” (EMMI) was founded on the grounds of the GSI, which, by networking leading research institutions in this field, will form a think tank for research at the FAIR facility. In the study and exploration of matter under extreme conditions, such as prevailed shortly after the Big Bang, unique insights are to be expected. They will contribute valuably to the planning of experiments to be carried out at the new large-scale facilities being built at the GSI, DESY and CERN. At the turn of the year to 2009, the Hahn-Meitner-Institut merged with the research centre BESSY to become the largest research institution in Berl

The Programmes in the Funding Period 2010-2014

The challenges faced by the research field remain largely unchanged compared to the former programme period, the research conducted in the research field is integrated into national and international roadmaps which determine the focus of the research work in the individual programmes on timescales of 10 to 15 years. This basic research simultaneously delivers many different impulses for technological developments.

The research field is responsible for outstanding, in many cases unique large-scale facilities. Hence, it contributes decisively to implementing the Helmholtz Association’s largescale facilities mission and, in so doing, also contributes valuably to strengthening its international visibility. The largescale facilities are used by the Helmholtz Centres for their own research, but are largely available for several thousands of users from home and abroad. In the first half of 2009, international experts reviewed the strategic focus of the research field and the programmes. The coming programme period plans, inter alia, a coordinated participation between the HZB, Forschungszentrum Jülich and GKSS in research activities at the neutron source FRM-II in Garching. The research field’s own research in the programme “Photons, Neutrons and Ions” is to be decisively expanded and upgraded. Furthermore, the “Condensed Matter Physics” programme will be transferred to the Research Field Key Technologies.

Involved Helmholtz Centres

Deutsche Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY

Forschungszentrum Jülich

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht

GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie