Description
The ELIMED beamline at ELI Beamlines represents a dedicated user platform designed to deliver laser-driven proton (LDP) beams for multidisciplinary research, including radiobiology. Powered by the L3 HAPLS 1 PW-class laser system, ELIMED enables proton energy selection and controlled multi-shot irradiations. Achieved user-usable proton energies are in the range of 15 – 25 MeV, with cut-off energies reaching up to ~40 MeV. Continuous developments in beam transport, dosimetry, and irradiation control have improved the stability and reproducibility required for systematic biological experiments.
The platform provides users with access to proton beams characterized by ultra-short pulse durations and high instantaneous dose rates, offering opportunities to investigate radiobiological responses under temporal conditions typically not achievable with conventional accelerators. Dedicated irradiation setups support in vitro exposures across a range of biological models, from 2D cell cultures to more complex 3D systems, with in vivo experiments available in the near future. Local as well as user experiments performed at the platform are briefly discussed.
In addition to beam delivery, ELIMAIA-ELIMED team offers dosimetric support, assistance with experimental planning, and access to an equipped biological laboratory for sample preparation and processing. A significant advantage of the ELI Beamlines facility stems from the user access model. During the biannual calls, submitted proposals are evaluated on the merit of scientific excellence and, if selected by an international committee, beamtime is provided free of charge. The platform thus serves as an operational and continuously evolving infrastructure for studying the biological effectiveness of LDP and for exploring new questions in ultrafast radiation biology.
