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
TOMCAT mai2009 03 tn.jpg
The Paul Scherrer Institute is Switzerland's largest research centre for the natural and engineering sciences. Approximately 400 scientists at the Institute are investigating a large variety of scientific questions that can be grouped into three main fields: “Matter and Material”, “Human Health”, and “Energy and Environment”. Most of these scientists use the Institute's unique large-scale research facilities in their work.

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
MM061025 sls web 0009 0003 tn.jpg
PSI operates several scientific large-scale facilities that allow experiments to be performed that are impossible in smaller laboratories. In many cases, it is these experiments that contribute decisive clues for solving a particular scientific problem. The facilities are unique in Switzerland, and some of them are the only ones of their type or scale in the world.

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 2000 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
SwissFEL Testanlage Okt09 017 tn.jpg
Staying still usually has the same effect as taking a step backwards in today's fast-moving times – and this is particularly true for the sciences. As a result, scientists must have access to research infrastructure that will allow them to continue their top-level research at the international level into the future. PSI is currently designing infrastructure of this type under the name SwissFEL. The aim of SwissFEL is to serve the needs of university and industrial research groups. More about SwissFEL – PSI's project of the future

Current News

27. January 2012

teaserbild.jpg

Kein Blick in die Kristallkugel

Das Paul Scherrer Institut wird in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Weltenergierat nachvollziehbare Modelle für zukünftige globale Energiesysteme entwickeln. In einem auf drei Jahre ausgelegten Projekt wollen PSI-Forscher um Stefan Hirschberg ein Modell entwickeln mit dem man Aussagen über zukünftige Energiesysteme machen kann. Das besondere daran ist, dass es sich um ein sogenanntes Open-Source-Modell handeln wird. D. h. Experten und andere Interessenten können einen Zugang zum Programm erhalten, sowie Informationen darüber, von genau welchen Annahmen die Forscher bei der Ausarbeitung ihres Modells ausgegangen sind. Das ist bei kommerziellen Anbietern von Prognosewerkzeugen nicht üblich.
This news release is only available in German.

23. January 2012

teaserbild.jpg

It works: Ultrafast magnetic processes observed ‘live’ using an X-ray laser

In first-of-their-kind experiments performed at the American X-ray laser LCLS, a collaboration led by researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute has been able to precisely follow how the magnetic structure of a material changes. The change of structure was initiated by a laser pulse, and investigated with the help of short X-ray pulses. It appears as if the structure begins to change 400 femtoseconds after the laser pulse strikes. Such investigations will be a major focus of research at the planned Swiss X-ray Laser, SwissFEL, at PSI.

23. December 2011

teaserbild.jpg

Fossile Vorläufer der ersten Tiere

Einzellige Organismen, die vor über einer halben Milliarde Jahre gelebt haben und deren Fossilien in China gefunden wurden, sind wohl die unmittelbaren Vorläufer der frühesten Tiere. Die amöbenartigen Einzeller haben sich in einer Weise in zwei, vier, acht usw. Zellen geteilt, wie es heute tierische (und menschliche) Embryonen tun. Die Forscher glauben, dass diese Organismen einem der ersten Schritte vom Einzeller zum Vielzeller in der Entwicklung richtiger Tiere entsprechen.
This news release is only available in German.

21. December 2011

teaserbild.jpg

Wenn die Datenleitung in die Zelle versagt

Lebende Zellen empfangen dauernd Informationen von aussen, die über Rezeptoren in das Zellinnere weitergeleitet werden. Genetisch bedingte Fehler in solchen Rezeptoren sind der Grund für zahlreiche Erbkrankheiten darunter verschiedene hormonelle Funktionsstörungen oder Nachtblindheit. Forschern des Paul Scherrer Instituts ist es nun erstmals gelungen, die exakte Struktur eines solchen fehlerhaften Rezeptors aufzuklären.
This news release is only available in German.

9. December 2011

teaserbild.jpg

Schweizer Hochpräzision stabilisiert den SwissFEL

Das Paul Scherrer Institut PSI und die MDC Max Daetwyler AG (Bleienbach), haben heute einen Vertrag unterzeichnet, nach dem Daetwyler wesentliche Komponenten für den Röntgenlaser SwissFEL, die neue Grossforschungsanlage des PSI, gemeinsam mit dem PSI entwickeln und bauen wird. Die Massnahmen des Bundes zur Abfederung der Frankenstärke erlauben es, den Bau der Komponenten vorzuziehen und so das SwissFEL-Projekt schneller voranzutreiben.
This news release is only available in French and German.
Older news can be found in the archive.

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 forum

For 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
Photo on the left: A sample being mounted at the TOMCAT beamline for X-ray tomography, located at the SLS.

Proton Therapy

Treatment for specific cancers at PSI

Media Contact

Information and contacts for media representatives

Current news

Press Releases and highlights from the Paul Scherrer Institute