PHOTON SCIENCE

The planned PETRA-IV synchrotron at DESY will be one of the brightest X-ray sources globally, enabling higher resolution experiments than currently possible. This will be complemented by new detector technologies operating at significantly higher frame rates, necessitating the development of novel approaches to data collection and analysis to efficiently manage the substantial data volumes generated. FS-SC coordinates the various digital topics in an ‘end-to-end system model’ and leads the scientific computing work package which is responsible for data processing, management and computing infrastructure for project. Efficient data strategies to efficiently handle kHz frame rates of imaging data are a key focus.

 

FS-SC is aligned with and active in the Helmholtz Matter program Matter and Technologies topic Data Management and Analysis (MT-DMA). Data Management and Analysis (MT-DMA) is a topic within the Helmholtz research program Matter and Technologies (MT) alongside detector development (MT-DTS) and accelerator research (MT-ARD). Matter and Technologies is itself an LK-I research program within the wider topic Matter that encompasses all research at DESY. MT-DMA and was established within the Helmholtz MATTER program with the PoF-IV period starting 2021. Apologies for the Helmholtz acronym salad.

MT-DMA is about data, specifically combining new capabilities for the research infrastructures in Helmholtz with technological advances in computing to allow for scientific progress. This perfectly aligns with our mission of developing computational solutions to benefit science output of the DESY photon science facilities.

PETRA III is a high-brilliance synchrotron radiation source for advanced X-ray science, and FLASH is DESY’s soft X-ray free-electron laser facility. FS-SC collaborates with beamline scientists and researchers to develop data solutions that optimise the output (volume, speed or accuracy) of facility measurements for the user community. This often involves exploiting the capabilities of our on-site HPC infrastructure Maxwell. An incomplete list of where we have made a difference can be found further down this page

FS-SC is and has been active in many projects external to DESY, including:

 

DAPHNE4NFDI (2021-2025)

The DAPHNE4NFDI project is a consortium funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) as part of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) initiative. Its primary goal is to enhance research data management at large-scale facilities by developing and implementing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) workflows, including the introduction of federated data solutions. The project spans 11 Universities and 6 large-scale German research infrastructures and is supported by the Joint Science Conference of the German Federal and State Governments, which has allocated significant funding. FS-SC led the DAPHNE4NFDI project from 2021-2025.

The Center for Data and Computing in Natural Sciences (CDCS) was a collaborative initiative involving key partners such as Universität Hamburg, Hamburg University of Technology, and DESY. Its primary focus is on advancing research data management and computational solutions in the natural sciences, supporting large-scale data-driven research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. The project aims to develop innovative tools and infrastructure to address the growing demands of data-intensive scientific workflows. FS-SC had two CDCS-funded postdocs who worked closely with scientists in a consulting role to solve computational problems using the latest computational technologies. The project ran from 2020 to 2024.

The ExPaNDS and PaNOSC projects were European initiatives that aim to establish an open science cloud for photon and neutron research, enabling FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data services and infrastructure for raw and processed scientific data. FS-SC led the data analysis infrastructure work package, which focused on containerising software for establishing portable workflows in a cloud like environment.

DataX (2021-2024)

The Data-X project was an Helmholtz Impulse and Networking Funds project focused on advancing data-driven research and innovation across the Helmholtz Association by developing and implementing cutting-edge solutions for data management, analysis, and AI/ML applications. Photon science hosted three postdocs from Data-X, which ran from 2021 to 2024.

 

LEAPS Working Group 3 is a collaborative initiative within the League of European Accelerator-based Photon Sources (LEAPS) that brings together experts in FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data management and open science. Its primary objective is to facilitate the exchange of best practices and recent advancements in photon science, particularly at synchrotrons and free-electron lasers, to promote innovation and enhance research data workflows.

The DASHH program at DESY is an interdisciplinary graduate school that offers PhD topics at the intersection of natural sciences, applied mathematics, and computer science, fostering collaboration among nine partner institutions. We are happy to embed computational PhD students within our group.

We develop and/or support specific solutions for instruments and research within photon science including the following: