Offering high-performance Laser Science at the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI)
ORAL
Abstract
The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) is a research facility that provides a wide range of scientists with
access to the largest and most diverse set of high-performance laser systems in the world [1]. Lasers are
used to study the fundamentals of interaction between matter and ultra-high-intensity, ultra-fast light
pulses, including plasma physics and relativistic acceleration of electrons and ions, or drive secondary
sources of ultra-short, high-intensity beams of light or particles which are used for imaging, diffraction
and fast spectroscopic studies of materials and biological systems. Such technology is also developed to
explore potential applications in laser-driven compact accelerators that could provide alternatives to
current central facilities for synchrotron radiation and ion/neutron beams on a scale that could be
located more readily in university departments, industrial laboratories or hospitals.
ELI operates as a single multi-site organisation with complementary facilities: (i) the ELI Attosecond Light
Pulse Source (ALPS) facility in Hungary for the exploration of ultra-fast processes with uniquely high time
resolution [2]; (ii) the high-energy ELI Beamlines facility in the Czech Republic, with a particular emphasis
on high peak laser intensity and delivery of secondary sources [3]; and (iii) the Nuclear Physics (NP)
facility in Romania for the combination of ultra-intense lasers with brilliant gamma-ray beams [4].
A particular feature and potential strength of ELI is the complementarity of the facilities, allowing for the
support of a particularly wide range of multidisciplinary science and enabling the co-development of
new, enabling technology – for example in laser optics, diagnostics or targets for the generation of
secondary sources. The three ELI Facilities have been available to user access based on peer-reviewed
excellence through open calls for proposals since 2022 and have attracted scientists across the globe
requesting access (~230 proposals) to approximately 40 different instruments.
An overview of the current instruments offered by ELI, designed to support a wide range of scientific
disciplines and research methodologies, will be given along with highlights of recent user experiments
and planned commissioning and R&D activities..
access to the largest and most diverse set of high-performance laser systems in the world [1]. Lasers are
used to study the fundamentals of interaction between matter and ultra-high-intensity, ultra-fast light
pulses, including plasma physics and relativistic acceleration of electrons and ions, or drive secondary
sources of ultra-short, high-intensity beams of light or particles which are used for imaging, diffraction
and fast spectroscopic studies of materials and biological systems. Such technology is also developed to
explore potential applications in laser-driven compact accelerators that could provide alternatives to
current central facilities for synchrotron radiation and ion/neutron beams on a scale that could be
located more readily in university departments, industrial laboratories or hospitals.
ELI operates as a single multi-site organisation with complementary facilities: (i) the ELI Attosecond Light
Pulse Source (ALPS) facility in Hungary for the exploration of ultra-fast processes with uniquely high time
resolution [2]; (ii) the high-energy ELI Beamlines facility in the Czech Republic, with a particular emphasis
on high peak laser intensity and delivery of secondary sources [3]; and (iii) the Nuclear Physics (NP)
facility in Romania for the combination of ultra-intense lasers with brilliant gamma-ray beams [4].
A particular feature and potential strength of ELI is the complementarity of the facilities, allowing for the
support of a particularly wide range of multidisciplinary science and enabling the co-development of
new, enabling technology – for example in laser optics, diagnostics or targets for the generation of
secondary sources. The three ELI Facilities have been available to user access based on peer-reviewed
excellence through open calls for proposals since 2022 and have attracted scientists across the globe
requesting access (~230 proposals) to approximately 40 different instruments.
An overview of the current instruments offered by ELI, designed to support a wide range of scientific
disciplines and research methodologies, will be given along with highlights of recent user experiments
and planned commissioning and R&D activities..
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Presenters
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Daniele Margarone
ELI Beamlines, ElI Beamlines
Authors
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Daniele Margarone
ELI Beamlines, ElI Beamlines