Institute

Institute of Technology and Engineering (ITE)

Physical Measurements

Physical measurement technology is fundamental to experimental scientific work and a key success factor. At ZEA-1, competent colleagues with many years of experience work together across teams, develop measurement systems hand in hand with our automation and carry out feasibility studies and physical experiments. In particular, we focus on the areas of measurement technology and sensor technology, cryogenics and vacuum technology.

Physikalische Messungen — Test setup, measuring station burst test moderator.

We develop, implement and validate the entire measurement chain from sensor to data analysis and link the measurement technology with existing systems. We also have unique measurement systems, for example in fields such as active and passive thermography, distance measurement with resolutions in the nanometre range, vibration and oscillation measurement and high-speed videography. For experimental testing, the ZEA-1 has an optics laboratory, a thermography and laser laboratory, a technical centre hall and a bursting bunker to investigate the behaviour of moderator containers at temperatures of -195°C and pressures of over 200 bar, for example.

With its cryo lab and the ZEA-1 cryostat, the ZEA-1 has an ideal infrastructure for cryogenic experiments in a temperature range from 300K to 10K in a closed circuit. Temperatures of up to 2K can be achieved in a non-closed system. Liquid hydrogen, its ortho/para conversion with and without catalysts, the properties of superfluid helium or the behaviour of sensors are investigated at the ZEA-1, both in the context of the energy transition and the moderation of neutrons.

Just as the pressure range of vacuums can vary by several orders of magnitude, the applications of vacuum technology are just as diverse. At ZEA-1 we cover the entire range from rough vacuum to ultra-high vacuum, with applications in the fields of particle accelerators and synchrotron facilities, scanning electron microscopy, neutron experiments and fundamental physics. This is complemented by our expertise in vacuum-compatible designs with regard to material selection, seals, surface treatment and welding as well as assembly in the clean room.