Skip to main content
  • Paul Scherrer Institut PSI
  • PSI Research, Labs & User Services

Digital User Office

  • Digital User Office
  • DE
  • EN
  • FR
Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)
Search
Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)

Hauptnavigation

  • Research at PSIOpen mainmenu item
    • Research Initiatives
    • Ethics and Research integrity
    • Scientific Highlights
    • Scientific Events
    • Scientific Career
    • PSI-FELLOW
    • PSI Data Policy
  • Research Divisions and LabsOpen mainmenu item
    • Overview
    • Research with Neutrons and Muons
    • Photon Science
    • Energy and Environment
    • Nuclear Energy and Safety
    • Biology and Chemistry
    • Scientific Computing, Theory and Data
    • Large Research Facilities
  • Facilities and InstrumentsOpen mainmenu item
    • Overview
    • Large Research Facilities
    • Facilities
    • PSI Facility Newsletter
  • PSI User ServicesOpen mainmenu item
    • User Office
    • Methods at the PSI User Facilities
    • Proposals for beam time
    • Proposal Deadlines
    • Data Analysis Service (PSD)
    • EU support programmes
  • New ProjectsOpen mainmenu item
    • SLS 2.0
    • IMPACT
  • DE
  • EN
  • FR

Digital User Office (mobile)

  • Digital User Office

You are here:

  1. PSI Home
  2. Labs & User Services
  3. Research Divisions and Labs

Secondary navigation

Labs & User Services

  • Research at PSI
  • Research Divisions and Labs
  • Facilities and Instruments
    • Large Research Facilities
    • Facilities
  • PSI User Labs
    • Methods and scopes of the Large Research Facilities
    • Proposals for beamtime
    • Proposal Deadlines
    • EU support programmes
    • Data Analysis Service
    • PSI Facility Newsletter
  • Research Initiatives
  • Scientific Highlights
    • NUM Highlights
    • PSD Highlights
    • BIO Highlights
    • ENE Highlights
    • NES Highlights
    • SCD Highlights
    • GFA Highlights
    • Scientific Reports
  • Scientific Events
  • Scientific Career
    • PSI-FELLOW
    • PSI Career Return Program
  • PSI Data Policy
  • Useful links

  • Useroffice
  • Digital User Office (DUO)
  • Accelerator status
  • PSIGuesthouse
  • Lib4RI
  • Ethics and Research integrity

Research Divisions and Labs

The institute is organized into five research and two service divisions.

num.jpg
Read more

Research with Neutrons and Muons (NUM)

The NUM division focuses on the research with neutrons and muons. The division operates the spallation neutron source SINQ, the Swiss muon source SμS and the PSI source of ultracold neutrons UCN. The in-house research covers a wide range of activities from particle physics on the one hand to solid state physics (magnetism, superconductivity), materials sciences and soft condensed matter on the other. The division consists of six laboratories and one staff group.

Homepage NUM

Laboratories:

  • Particle Physics LTP
  • Neutron Scattering and Imaging LNS
  • Muon Spin Spectroscopy LMU
  • Neutron and Muon Instrumentation LIN
  • Multiscale Materials Experiments LMX

Staff Group:

  • PSI User Office and Guesthouse User Office

teaserPSD.jpg
Read more

Photon Science (PSD)

The Photon Science Division (PSD) operates two User Facilities, i.e. the Swiss Light Source (SLS) and the X-ray Free Electron Laser (SwissFEL). These facilities are divided into six laboratories, and these in turn, operate 18 beamlines in total, as well as the clean room facilities. Research is performed by external users as well as by PSI scientists.

Homepage PSD

Laboratories:

  • Macromolecules and Bioimaging LSB
  • X-ray Nanoscience and Technologies LXN
  • Condensed Matter LSC
  • Synchrotron Radiation and Femtochemistry LSF
  • Advanced Spectroscopy and X-ray Sources LSX
  • Non-linear Optics LNO
  • Nano and Quantum Technologies LNQ

ene.jpg
Read more

Energy and Environment (ENE)

Research at ENE comprises all aspects of human energy use, with the ultimate goal of promoting development towards a sustainable energy supply system. Technologies are being advanced for the utilization of renewable energy sources, low-loss energy storage, efficient conversion, and low emission energy use. Experimental and model-based assessment of these emissions forms the basis of a comprehensive assessment of economic, ecological and environmental consequences, for both present and future energy supply systems.

Homepage ENE

Laboratories:

  • Bioenergy and Catalysis LBK
  • Electrochemistry LEC
  • Atmospheric Chemistry LAC
  • Environmental Chemistry Laboratory LUC
  • Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry LSK
  • Energy Systems Analysis LEA

Jahresbericht 2009.jpg
Read more

Nuclear Energy and Safety (NES)

The Paul Scherrer Institute has a long tradition in energy research. With respect to nuclear energy, PSI has a unique position in Switzerland. This is due to its heavy infrastructure, namely the Hot Laboratory with so-called hot cells, well equipped and shielded zones for work and research on radioactive material. Based on this infrastructure, PSI's large facilities (SLS and SINQ) and the know-how of its collaborators, the division is involved in three main topics of research: Safety of currently operating light-water reactors, safety characteristics of future reactor concepts and related fuel cycles, and long-term safety of deep geological repositories for nuclear wastes of all kind.

Homepage NES

Laboratories:

  • Reactor Physics and Thermal-Hydraulics LRT
  • Hot Laboratory AHL
  • Waste Management LES
  • Energy Systems Analysis LEA
  • Nuclear Materials LNM
  • Radiochemistry LRC

chemielaborant05 tn.jpg
Read more

Biology and Chemistry (BIO)

The division of Biology and Chemistry at PSI is subdivided into three laboratories pursuing research in the areas of cell and structural biology, biomolecular imaging and radio-pharmacy.

The Laboratory of Biomolecular Research (LBR) works on three broad, overlapping research topics: (i) membrane protein structure and function, (ii) structure-function relationships of macromolecular assemblies of the cell and (iii) new methods for bio-structural analysis. LBR’s principal investigators have academic freedom in achieving the scientific goals of their projects. The LBR is responsible for key research instrumentation at PSI: electron microscopy, biophysical instruments and light microscopy, protein production; with SLS, the LBR is sharing responsibility for the protein crystallisation facility. The LBR Young Researchers Network (LYRN) organises scientific and social activities to complement LBR’s excellent research infrastructure, providing an attractive environment for young scientists in structural biology.

The Center of Radiopharmaceutical Sciences pursues research in the fields of tracer preparation and in vivo imaging of tissues, in particular of disseminated tumors that cannot be removed surgically or by external radiation therapy. The laboratory is operated jointly by ETH Zürich and PSI. The laboratory creates therapeutic molecules by combining particular types of biomolecules, such as for instance antibodies, with radioactive nuclides. These reagents are used to image tumors and to selectively target and destroy tumor cells in animal models. PSI cooperates with universities, hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the most effective coordination of its basic research capabilities with clinical applications.

Homepage BIO

Laboratories:

  • Center for Radiopharmaceutical Sciences ZRW
  • Biomolecular Research LBR
  • Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology LNB

Scientific Computing, Theory and Data (SCD)


Homepage SCD

Laboratories:

  • Scientific Computing and Modelling LSM
  • Computational and Theoretical Physics LTC
  • Materials Simulations LMS
  • Science IT Infrastructure and Services AWI

Division Large Research Facilities (GFA)

The Division of Large Research Facilities (GFA) is responsible for the construction, operation and development of the particle accelerators at PSI. Accelerator facilities form the backbone of the main research activities at PSI. The high intensity proton accelerator (HIPA) is used to generate muons for muon spin spectroscopy (LMU ), and neutrons by spallation from a target (SINQ ). The Swiss Light Source (SLS) is a state-of-the-art electron storage ring which generates high brightness photon beams for users of synchrotron radiation (PSD ).

A hard X-Ray Free Electron Laser, SwissFEL, was inaugurated at the end of 2016. It is based on a low emittance 5.8 GeV linear electron accelerator. The facility provides extremely short, very bright pulses of X-rays for time resolved experiments. Construction of a soft X-ray free electron laser (ATHOS), driven by the same electron linac, has also begun. These instruments are used by a large national and international multi-disciplinary research community.

GFA is also responsible for the operation of a compact proton cyclotron and attached beamlines (PROSCAN), dedicated to the treatment of cancer patients within the Centre for Proton Therapy (ZPT). A third rotating gantry, GANTRY 3, was recently added to this treatment facility. A major upgrade of the SLS is currently under design. This upgrade will result in an increase of the brightness of the source by two orders of magnitude.

Homepage GFA


Division Logistics (LOG)

The division of Logistics provides technical and administrative services for the whole institute.

Sidebar

PSI User Office

The PSI User Office is a central PSI installation to serve the users from all the four user laboratories.


Digital User Office (DUO)

Get direct access to PSI Digital User Office:
DUO Login
Register


SwissFEL

The new X-ray free electron laser facility.

top

Footer

Paul Scherrer Institut

Forschungsstrasse 111
5232 Villigen PSI
Switzerland

Telephone: +41 56 310 21 11
Telefax: +41 56 310 21 99

How to find us
Contact

Visitor Centre psi forum
School Lab iLab (in German)
Center for Proton Therapy
PSI Education Centre
PSI Guest House
PSI Gastronomie (in German)
psi forum shop

Service & Support

  • Phone Book
  • User Office
  • Accelerator Status
  • PSI Publications
  • Suppliers
  • E-Billing
  • Computing
  • Safety (in German)

Career

  • Working at PSI
  • Job Opportunities
  • Training and further education
  • Career Center
  • Vocational Training (in German)
  • PSI Education Center

For the media

  • PSI in brief
  • Facts and Figures
  • Media corner
  • Media Releases
  • Social Media

Follow us: Twitter (in English) LinkedIn Youtube Facebook Instagram Issuu RSS

Footer legal

  • Imprint
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Editors' login