Scientific output continued to increase at MAX IV during 2024, with the facility making societal contributions within areas such as life science, energy and materials science.
Delve into the results now published in our MAX IV Annual Report 2024.
Several factors converged to make 2024 a success. Some beamlines recently completed their commissioning phase and are now approaching full operation. MAX IV’s status as the first fully operational fourth-generation synchrotron continues to draw international users—particularly with other facilities still in upgrade cycles. The MAX IV 36th User Meeting, held in mid-January further highlighted this momentum, offering a dynamic mix of early-career researchers, dedicated sessions from other large-scale infrastructures, and active dialogue on industrial R&D needs. The enthusiastic atmosphere and record-high participation exemplify the diverse and growing academic and industrial communities that MAX IV serves.
Across the facility, the beamlines have proven more versatile than originally imagined, with life science experiments expanding into stations never intended for them, and proprietary beamtime breaking records, which now exceeds 1000 hours. Much of this proprietary use was driven by the pharmaceutical industry, but our organisation also observes growing interest from other sectors, reflecting a broader trend of industrial users seeking advanced characterisation methods.
Publications increased with 27 percent compared to 2023, and studies published during the year build on data from MAX IV in a broad range of scientific disciplines. Examples of studies from MAX IV users included research on climate effects of airbound particles, sustainable energy sources, exciting new types of electronics, battery development to meet increasing energy storage needs, catalysts for transforming unwanted substances into useful ones, to solutions for cleaning polluted soil and water, more durable and lighter materials for transport, understanding diseases that lack a cure today, and new medicines.
Get the full picture in the MAX IV Annual Report 2024.
