What is the ESRF?

Imagine a source that produces X-rays 10 trillion times brighter than the X-rays used in hospitals, X-rays that allow us to fathom the structure of matter down to the minutest detail, at the atomic level. Imagine no further! These X-rays, endowed with exceptional properties, really do exist. They are produced at the ESRF – The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility – located in Grenoble, France, in an international and innovative campus.

Making the invisible visible

The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) is home to an Extremely Brilliant Source, the first of a new kind of high-energy fourth-generation synchrotron.

These powerful X-rays are produced by electrons circulating at nearly the speed of light inside the facility’s 844-metre storage ring. The ESRF functions like a giant microscope, which "films" the position and motion of atoms in condensed and living matter, and reveals the structure of matter in all its beauty and complexity. It provides researchers with powerful tools to investigate the structure of living matter and materials across multiple length and time scales – from molecules to macroscopic systems.

An international hub based on scientific excellence

Operating 24/7 and supported by 19 partner countries, the ESRF hosts around 10,000 international researchers annually, via a peer-reviewed access system based on scientific excellence. With 46 state-of-the-art beamlines, it drives innovations in a variety of fundamental and applied research disciplines ranging from biology, chemistry, materials science and physics to medical sciences, circular economy, quantum science and technology, environmental research, material engineering and cultural heritage.

The ESRF’s far-reaching impact not only advances fundamental science but also contributes to developing innovative technologies and solutions for a more sustainable society.

The Power of Synchrotron Light

The ESRF produces synchrotron light with wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to infrared radiation. It consists mostly of X-rays with a wavelength of about 0.1 nanometre (a nanometre is one billionth of a metre, i.e. 1 nm = 10-9 m). Unlike standard hospital X-rays, synchrotron light is 100 billion times brighter, providing unmatched precision. This brilliance allows researchers to observe matter in ways previously impossible—capturing the dynamics of atoms, mapping nanoscale structures, and understanding materials under real-life conditions.

By revealing the invisible structures of our world, the ESRF helps answer key questions:

• What is our planet made of?
• How can we fight diseases more effectively?
• Can we build cleaner technologies and smarter materials?
• How can we contribute to the production of safer food?
• How can we preserve our cultural heritage?

Whether exploring ancient history or building the future, the ESRF’s unique X-ray light helps to push forwards the frontiers of science.

Innovation at the forefront

Since its inception in 1988, the ESRF has pioneered synchrotron-based science, building the first “third generation” X-ray synchrotron source. Since the start of operation in 1994, the ESRF beamlines have enabled more than 40,000 publications in refereed scientific journals and 6 Nobel Prizes to ESRF users.

In 2020, the ESRF unveiled the ESRF-EBS (Extremely Brilliant Source), a "fourth generation" high-energy X-ray synchrotron source that outperforms "third generation" sources by a factor of two in terms of brightness. This breakthrough allows new investigations of the nanoworld using X-ray imaging and microscopy techniques. EBS heralds a new era in the 3D study of matter from the molecular to the macroscopic scale, opening up new horizons in the understanding of life in its multiple hierarchical organisations and in the development of the materials of the future, where energy and environmental sustainability are paramount.

ESRF-EBS IN NUMBERS

• 19 partner countries
• 46 beamlines
• 10,000 scientific visitors annually
• 1,500 scientific publications each year
• 6 Nobel prizes to ESRF users
• 10 ERC Grants to ESRF users or in-house scientists