Fascinating research,
or “what are they actually doing there?”
In these pages, we would like to present the Paul Scherrer Institute to an interested public in a generally comprehensible way. Here you can learn more about the research topics we are working on and the unique large-scale facilities we are using to find answers to a variety of scientific questions.
Research at the Paul Scherrer Institute
Further Information
- Research at PSI can be divided into three fields
- Structure of Matter
- Energy and Environment
- Human Health
The scientific results gained at PSI help us understand the world around us by shedding light on the processes behind various physical and biological phenomena. At the same time, they constitute the basis for novel developments in technology and medicine. More about Research at the Paul Scherrer Institute.
Large-Scale Facilities at the Paul Scherrer Institute
Further Information
- The large-scale facilities at PSI
- Swiss light source SLS
- Neutron source SINQ
- Muon Source SμS
- Proton accelerators
- Access to the large-scale facilities for external users
- User service PSI
In order to allow as many scientists as possible to benefit from the opportunities offered by PSI, the Institute provides access to the facilities within the framework of a User Service to researchers from universities, other research centres and industrial companies. Each year, about 2300 researchers in these categories perform experiments at the facilities. More about Large-Scale Facilities at the Paul Scherrer Institute.
SwissFEL – PSI's project of the future
Further Information
- Popular description of the project
- The future project SwissFEL
- Information on the project website
- SwissFEL project website
Current News
29. July 2010
Understanding plastic semiconductors better
Semiconductors made from polymer materials are becoming increasingly important for the electronics industry – as a basis for transistors, solar cells or LEDs. Usually, they consist of more than one substance as they get their particular electric properties only when several materials are blended. Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute and the University of Cambridge have developed a method that allows them to determine the detailed structure of the material.22. July 2010
New X-ray technique distinguishes between that which previously looked the same
Images generated using the phase-contrast technique allow one to distinguish between tissue types such as muscle, cartilage, tendons or soft-tissue tumours that look virtually identical in conventional X-ray images. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute and the Chinese Academy of Science have further developed the technique to make it easier to use in the future. This could help in the detection of tumours or in the identification of hazardous objects in luggage.8. July 2010
Protons – smaller than we thought
The proton – one of the smallest building-blocks of all matter – is even smaller than had previously been assumed. This discovery is the result of experiments carried out at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland, by an international research team.2. July 2010
Paul Scherrer Institut ermöglicht bessere Versorgung der Spitäler mit hochwirksamem Krebsmedikament
Das Paul Scherrer Institut ist für die Behandlung von bestimmten Krebserkrankungen mittels seiner einzigartigen Protonentherapie-Anlage bekannt. Nun hilft das PSI auch bei der Behandlung einer Gruppe von Krebspatienten durch die Herstellung eines Krebsmedikaments. Die erste Patientendosis wurde heute am Zentrum für Radiopharmazeutische Wissenschaften des PSI hergestellt und im Kantonsspital Luzern einem Patienten verabreicht.This news release is only available in German.
2. July 2010
Gesamtbundesrat zu Besuch am Paul Scherrer Institut
Der traditionelle Jahresausflug des Bundesrats hat dieses Jahr in die Heimat von Bundespräsidentin Doris Leuthard, in den Aargau, geführt. Mit ihren Ratskolleginnen und Ratskollegen sowie der Bundeskanzlerin und den beiden Vizekanzlern besuchte die Bundespräsidentin am Freitag, 2.Juli 2010 als erste Station das Paul Scherrer Institut, das grösste Forschungsinstitut der Schweiz.This news release is only available in German.
For media representatives
Are you a journalist and do you have general questions about PSI? Are you looking for images for an article on a research topic? PSI has an extensive photo archive from which we can send you appropriate material upon request. We will be happy to assist you in your search for scientists who, as neutral experts, will respond to your technical questions. Please get in touch with our contact for media representatives:For the general public
If, after visiting our Website, you would really like to know what our daily work routine is like – come and visit us. In the psi forum visisitor's centre, we welcome adults and teenagers, either individually or in groups. Homepage psi forumFor parties of 12 persons and over, we offer a free-of-charge tour through our large-scale facilities, and for students we have founded the student laboratory iLab. School classes can visit us free of charge for a day, carry out experiments in the laboratory and then see from the large-scale facilities how the scientific principle studied at iLab is applied in routine research. Homepage iLab