Description
INFN-LNS is developing the I-LUCE (INFN-Laser indUCEd Radiation Production) facility, a compact laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) integrated within its existing cyclotron and TANDEM infrastructure. The facility will host two laser systems: a THALES Ti:Sa laser delivering up to 320 TW (1–7.7 J, 23–25 fs, 2.2 Hz) and a low-power Astrella laser (9 mJ, 32 fs, 1 kHz) for low-energy electron studies (1–8 MeV). The THALES installation began in April 2026, the Astrella in May 2026, and full operation is expected by 2028.
I-LUCE will generate electron, proton/ion, and neutron beams using gas and solid targets. Through laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA), employing gas nozzles and gas-filled capillaries with plasma densities of 10¹⁷–10¹⁹ cm⁻³ and laser intensities of 10¹⁷–10¹⁹ W/cm², electron beams from the MeV to GeV range can be produced. Novel proton acceleration schemes using capillaries are also under development, while high-energy proton beams are generated from solid targets via target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA).
INFN-LNS has established strong collaborations through European projects and major facilities, particularly with ELI Beamlines. Within the ELIMAIA beamline and ELIMED section, joint activities focus on laser-driven ion beam transport, dosimetry, sample irradiation, radiobiology, and applications in hadron therapy.
In electron acceleration research, INFN-LNS contributes to EuAPS and EuPRAXIA, Europe’s plasma accelerator infrastructure. Following the selection of ELI Beamlines as the EuPRAXIA laser-driven acceleration pillar, INFN-LNS and ELI are collaborating on the development of gas-filled plasma discharge capillaries for LWFA and very high-energy electron (VHEE) generation. At I-LUCE, these capillaries act as plasma waveguides, providing stable density profiles and enabling highly reproducible electron beams. Monte Carlo simulations indicate VHEE dose rates of 0.1–0.8 Gy/s along the beam axis. In addition, proton–boron (p–¹¹B) fusion via collision shock acceleration is being investigated for advanced fusion research.
