Visit of EuXFEL Management Board members to the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences

On September 11–12, the Management Board of EuXFEL – the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser:, Prof. Thomas Feurer (Managing Director and Chairman of the Management Board), Dr. Nicole Elleuche (Managing and Administrative Director), and Prof. Serguei Molodtsov (Scientific Director), were in Warsaw to meet with ministry officials and top collaborating institutions. 

 On the first day of the visit, the guests participated in a meeting at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, where discussions focused on the scientific potential of EuXFEL and the involvement of the Polish scientific community in research conducted at this unique facility. The Ministry was represented by Izabela Najda-Jędrzejewska, Deputy Director of the Strategic Research Infrastructure Division of the Department of Innovation and Development, and Michał Rybiński, Division Head. Also in attendance were Polish representatives of the Ministry's project supporting the development of the Polish research community in XFEL-based studies, including Prof. Ryszard Sobierajski – scientific leader of the project, Head of the XFEL Centre of Excellence at the Institute of Physics PAS (IF PAN), and Vice-Chair of the European XFEL Council.

Following the meeting, the EuXFEL delegation visited the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Świerk. The visit was an opportunity to discuss joint research plans and the development of strategic projects. The guests also toured the MARIA research reactor and the POLATOM Radioisotope Centre.

The day concluded with a formal dinner attended by Prof. Piotr Deuar and Prof. Sobierajski from IF PAN, representatives of NCBJ, and Polish scientists involved in the XFEL project.

On September 12, the EuXFEL delegates visited the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IF PAN). Representing the Institute at the meeting were Directors for Scientific Affairs – Prof. Piotr Deuar and Prof. Bartłomiej Witkowski, as well as Prof. Tomasz Story (Chair of the Scientific Council of IF PAN), Prof. Tomasz Wojtowicz (from the MagTop Centre), Prof. Ryszard Sobierajski (Vice-Chair of the European XFEL Council), and Prof. Łukasz Kłopotowski, head of a group that has recently begun taking advantage of the XFEL infrastructure.

The meeting was opened by Prof. Deuar, who presented the activities of the Institute, the main areas of research, and its potential for international cooperation. Prof. Thomas Feurer then gave a presentation on the scientific capabilities of the European XFEL, discussed the existing collaboration with Poland, and outlined future prospects and expectations. He particularly emphasized the recent significant increase in engagement from Polish scientists in research involving EuXFEL.

Next, Prof. Łukasz Kłopotowski spoke about current and planned research carried out by his team using XFEL infrastructure, and Prof. Tomasz Wojtowicz presented the activities and achievements of the MagTop Centre – a leading unit in the field of topological materials research. The meeting also provided an opportunity for a discussion on joint European projects – both scientific and coordination and support initiatives. Informal conversations continued over a shared lunch, joined by Prof. Leszek Sirko, Director of IF PAN.

The visit concluded with a tour of the advanced MagTop laboratory, where the guests became acquainted with its modern technological facilities for the development and characterization of topological materials.

The visit of the EuXFEL Management Board members provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen our cooperation and discuss plans for its further development. We are deeply impressed by the unique infrastructure of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser and the wide range of research possibilities it offers. It undoubtedly opens new perspectives for advanced research projects. We see great potential for developing further collaboration, as well as a need to broaden the group of Polish researchers making use of the cutting-edge capabilities of the European XFEL.

XFEL Centres of Excellence Network

The European XFEL (EuXFEL) is currently one of the most advanced sources of coherent hard X-ray pulses. Polish researchers’ involvement in the use of EuXFEL infrastructure has expanded thanks to the establishment of the network of XFEL Centres of Excellence (CD XFEL) whose goal is to support Polish scientists conducting research implementing this extraordinary laser. Thanks to the efforts of Prof. Sobierajski and funded by a Ministry of Science and Higher Education project, one of these Centres was established at the Institute of Physics. The network also includes research laboratories at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), the University of Warsaw, and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. These centres bring together researchers experienced in conducting research at EuXFEL, who are ready to share their expertise with new Polish users of this advanced infrastructure.