scales, with timescales ranging from femtoseconds to seconds using techniques such as XPCS. Control The experiments in the facility are controlled via the in-house developed control system named Karabo. It is a distributed SCADA system written in C++ and python. Research The short laser pulses make it possible to measure chemical reactions that are too rapid to be captured by other methods. The wavelength of the X-ray laser may be varied from 0.05 to 4.7 nm, enabling measurements at the atomic length scale. Initially, one photon beamline with two experimental stations can be used. Later this will be upgraded to five photon beamlines and a total of ten experimental stations. The experimental beamlines enable unique scientific experiments using the high intensity, coherence and time structure of the new source to be conducted in a variety of disciplines spanning physics, chemistry, materials science, biology and nanotechnology. History The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research granted permission to build the facility on 5 June 2007 at a cost of €850 million, under the provision that it should be financed as a European project. The European XFEL GmbH that built and operates the facility was founded in 2009. Civil construction of the facility began on 8 January 2009. Construction of the tunnels was completed in summer 2012, and all underground construction was completed the following year. The first beams were accelerated in April 2017, and the first X-ray beams were produced in May 2017. XFEL was inaugurated in September 2017. The overall cost for the construction and commissioning of the facility is estimated at €1.22 billion (price levels of 2005). References External links European XFEL website Interactive Map The revolution of XFEL Buildings and structures in Altona, Hamburg Buildings and structures in Pinneberg (district) Free-electron lasers International research institutes Physics in Germany Research institutes in Germany Research lasers Science and technology in Europe X-ray instrumentation