ILIL (Pisa, Italy)

High-quality relativistic electron bunches

Study of advanced injection schemes for the production of high-quality electron bunches. This activity, pursued at both a theoretical and an experimental level, aims at improving the main figures (mainly energy spread and emittance) of electron bunches produced by Laser Wake-Field Acceleration, to drive future laser-plasma based accelerators and light sources.

• Tomassini P. et al., Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 62, 014010 (2020),
• Marasciulli A. et al., Appl. Opt. 629368 (2023)

Very High Energy Electron bunches for advanced radiotherapy

Optimization, manipulation and dosimetry of laser-driven electron bunches for novel radiotherapy modalities. Laser-accelerated electrons in the so-called Very High Energy Electron energy range (100-250MeV) are studied as particle sources for future radiotherapy protocols with advanced irradiation schemes, enabling improved treatment outcome and accessing possible game-changing dose delivery regimes based on the so-called FLASH effect.

• Labate L. et al., Sci. Rep. 10, 17307 (2020),
• Panaino C. M. V. et al., Cancers, 17 (2025)
  

Laser-driven proton acceleration and development of compact sources for applications

Study of fundamental issues in laser-driven proton beam acceleration via Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA). Demonstration of compact sources based on TNSA for advanced applications in material studies, such as elemental analysis via Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE).

• Gizzi L.A. et al., Phys. Rev. Res. 2, 033451 (2020),
• Gizzi L.A. et al., Sci. Rep. 11, 13728 (2021)
• Salvadori M. et al., Phys. Rev. Appl. 21, 064020 (2024)

Diagnostics of laser-plasma interaction

Development of advanced diagnostics of laser-plasma interaction, based on advanced interferometry.

• Brandi F., Gizzi L.A. , High Power Laser Sci. Eng. 7, e26 (2019)
  

High average power laser development

Development of novel amplification schemes for ultrashort laser pulses, based on direct diode-pumping of Tm-based ceramic materials. The approaches pursued enable a better management of thermal issues in the amplifier, aimed at operation at high rep rate/high average power

• Palla D. et al. Opt. Laser Technology 156, 108524 (2022)

Study of laser-plasma interaction regimes of interest for ICF

Investigation of laser-plasma interaction physics relevant to the Direct Drive scheme of Inertial Confinement fusion, also related to the role of laser specifications for advanced ignition schemes including the shock ignition. The study is part of the European Roadmap for IFE

• Batani D, Colaïtis A, Consoli F, Danson CN, Gizzi LA, Honrubia J, et al. Future for inertial-fusion energy in Europe: a roadmap. High Power Laser Science and Engineering. 2023; 11:e83. doi:10.1017/hpl.2023.80
• Cristoforetti, G., Baffigi, F., Batani, D. et al. Investigation on the origin of hot electrons in laser plasma interaction at shock ignition intensities. Sci Rep 13, 20681 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-46189-7

The research group running the ILIL lab has a long-term expertise in laser-plasma interaction, with a focus, over the past years, on interaction of ultrashort laser pulses at relativistic intensity. The activity is mostly devoted to study laser-driven acceleration of both electron (via Laser WakeField Acceleration) and proton (via Target Normal Sheath Acceleration) beams. The physics underpinning these processes is approached from both a theoretical/numerical as well as an experimental point of view. The work involves the development of advanced diagnostics of the laser-plasma interaction, as well as the study and optimization of novel acceleration schemes and regimes, aimed at, for instance, improving the quality of the beams for future HEP accelerators and light sources, or enhancing the charge per bunch aiming at increasing the dose for medical applications. Advanced diagnostics for particle beams characterization are also developed. The research activity also pursues novel applications of laser-driven particle accelerators, such as, for instance, in material science. Over the past few years, the group focused on exploring the possibility of using laser-accelerated relativistic electron bunches for novel radiotherapy modalities, possibly exploiting the so-called FLASH effect; this also encompasses the study of novel dose delivery schemes, as well as of novel dosimetry techniques.

In view of future applications of laser-driven accelerators requiring high average flux of particles and photons, the group is also investigating novel laser architectures, overcoming thermal management issues in current TiSa-based lasers and enabling operation of ultrashort lasers at high repetition rate and high average power.

The laboratory currently features different ultrashort/high power laser beamlines, detailed in the following.

• • Beamline 1. E>5J, dt<25fs, rep rate 1Hz, lambda=800nm. TiSa-based double CPA laser system (front-end equipped with an XPW stage to increase contrast).
  • Beamline 2. E>800mJ, dt<25fs, rep rate 100Hz, lambda=800nm. TiSa based double CPA laser system (front-end equipped with an XPW stage to increase contrast).
  • Beamline 3. E>20mJ, dt<40fs, rep rate 1kHz, lambda=800nm. TiSa based CPE laser system.
  • Beamline 4. E>2mJ, dt<40fs, rep rate 1kHz, lambda=2000nm. Optical Parametric Amplifier pumped by a TiSa CPA system.

A full set of diagnostics of the laser pulse is available for users, including diagnostics of both longitudinal (spectral amplitude and phase, pulse duration, etc.) and transverse quantities (wavefront), as well as a room for tailoring them, using dazzler and mazzler devices, deformable mirrors, etc.

Experiments can be carried out in radiation shielded Target Areas, each equipped with vacuum chamber.

Full set of optical diagnostics of laser-plasma interaction (including, for instance, interferometry, side imaging, Thomson scattering imaging).

Advanced spectral and dose diagnostics of charged particle and photon beams.

The laboratory is equipped with optical and X-ray CCD detectors, as well as image plates and timepix detectors.