Working at a particle accelerator during your studies? That is possible at TUBAF! At the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY), mineralogy students are analysing sealing earths from the 18th century under strong X-rays in a current measurement campaign at the TUBAF Institute of Mineralogy. During the 24 hour shifts at the synchrotron, they also learn to plan experiments precisely and carry them out under strict guidelines, deal with incorrect measurements and work well together as a team.
"We had already learnt about the basic functionality of synchrotrons during our studies. I never expected that this would soon be of practical relevance to me when I was actually there in Hamburg for the first time. I was immediately fascinated! I really wanted to take the opportunity to work at DESY during my studies," says Master's student Sebastian Moritz. Thanks to small study groups, students on many degree programmes at TU Bergakademie Freiberg have access to internships in laboratories and reserach plants without a waiting list - and sometimes even on a superlative large-scale device.
The Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY is one of the world's leading particle accelerator centres. DESY is located in Hamburg and Zeuthen (near Berlin) and is one of the 18 Helmholtz Centres in Germany.
From the lecture theatre into practice
Master's student of geosciences Nele Jensen also seized this special opportunity: " I saw the measurement campaign as a very good opportunity to learn new methods, gain experience, work with a larger team and also take on responsibility." And how did the teamwork on an unfamiliar large-scale research device go? "We complemented each other well with our different strengths: some are very skilful at fitting the sample holders, others keep track of the work steps or remain calm if something goes wrong. That gives you self-confidence; I felt much more secure during the next shift."
For Master's student Franziska Nachtwey, the high proportion of practical work was a decisive reason for choosing TU Bergakademie Freiberg for her degree in geosciences: "The opportunity to work at large research institutions like DESY is something special and offers an intensive insight into scientific work - a huge opportunity for me both professionally and personally."
Doctoral student Anja Weber led the measurement campaign with Professor Gerhard Heide and the students. The work at DESY broadened the perspective of everyone involved: "What is possible beyond the laboratory? How do cutting-edge analytics work? An excursion like this brings people together - not just within a class, but across educational levels. I think this form of connection through research is particularly valuable," says Heide.
Historic sealing soils meet cutting-edge analytics
Heide's team is investigating pressed and sealed clay objects, "terra sigillata", which were widely used as remedies, trade goods and collectors' items from antiquity to the early modern period. The Saxon sigillata of the 18th century in particular differ significantly from the better-known ancient variants and have hardly been researched to date. "At beamline P02.1 at DESY, we use high-energy X-ray diffraction in transmission. The X-rays are scattered at the periodic lattice planes of the crystal lattices of the individual minerals in the sealing earths, which creates characteristic diffraction patterns. From this, we can then determine which minerals are contained - ideally also in what quantity," explains Anja Weber. For her doctorate, she is systematically analysing the mineralogical composition and internal texture for the first time, which may allow conclusions to be drawn about where these objects were found and how they were produced.
"The special challenge: these are historical, museum cultural assets that can only be analysed non-destructively - as is possible at DESY."
Anja Weber
