A violin and organ sonata linking music, history and science

The European Synchrotron (ESRF) is the world’s first fourth-generation, high-energy synchrotron since completion of the EBS (Extremely Brilliant Source). The unparalleled capabilities were tested in 2020 on a violin belonging to Paul Tafforeau, ESRF scientist in charge of the beamline BM18. That proof of concept was decisive for launching a project dedicated to 3D high-resolution imaging of complete human organs. Arriving full-circle four years later, the incredible progress achieved on human organs has enabled an unprecedented analysis of one of the most famous violins in the world.