Annual Report 2019 - Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research

The Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research conducts materials research for future applications in, e.g., information technology. To this end, we make use of the various possibilities offered by our Ion Beam Center (IBC) for synthesis, modification, and analysis of thin films and nanostructures, as well as of the free-electron laser FELBE at HZDR for THz spectroscopy. The analyzed materials range from semiconductors and oxides to metals and magnetic materials. They are investigated with the goal to optimize their electronic, magnetic, optical as well as structural functionality. This research is embedded in the Helmholtz Association’s programme “From Matter to Materials and Life”. Seven publications from last year are highlighted in this Annual Report to illustrate the wide scientific spectrum of our institute. After the scientific evaluation in the framework of the Helmholtz Programme-Oriented Funding (POF) in 2018 we had some time to concentrate on science again before end of the year a few of us again had to prepare for the strategic evaluation which took place in January 2020, which finally was also successful for the Institute. In 2019, there have been a number of organizational changes. First, and most prominently, we were able to hire Prof. Dr. Anton Wallner as new head of our department Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and Isotope Research. This appointment is jointly with the TU Dresden where Toni has recei¬ved a chair in the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics. Along with this employment, our scientific advisory board and board of trustees approved the acquisition of a dedicated 1 MV accele¬rator for AMS including a laser detachment system. With this move, we hope to widen the scope of the user facility Ion Beam Center to new user communities in the field of nuclear astrophysics, environmental and geosciences. Second, the department Ion Beam Center is now headed by Dr. Stefan Facsko, who took over the responsibility from Dr. Johannes