LDED activity is at the core of ELI-NP’s mission to research laser-driven phenomena in nuclear physics. The main focus is to quantify the high power laser interaction with matter and develop new applications based on this research. In the short term, the goal of LDED is to implement the experimental setups in three large-scale dedicated areas: E1, E5, and E6. Each of these areas houses a custom-built interaction chamber connected to the laser system through a specific laser beam transport line and is provided with dedicated diagnostic tools. In particular, E1 is dedicated to experiments that utilize two laser beams with 10 PW each, for the study of laser-driven nuclear physics and strong-field QED using accelerated particles in solid targets. The experimental area E6 is designated to host strong-field QED experiments with the two 10 PW arms using ultra-relativistic electrons accelerated in gas targets. Finally, E5 is dedicated to experiments with two-1 PW laser beams for the study of material and biological sciences. Besides, E5 will host studies to assist the 2 x 10 PW experiments.
Laser driven nuclear physics
High power lasers will be capable of producing high energy charged particles, gamma-rays, and neutrons, with a peak flux orders of magnitude higher than achievable with conventional accelerators. In the E1 experimental area of ELI-NP, these short-duration, high fluxes of nuclear particles will be used to study new kind of nuclear physics phenomena, such as:
- Exotic, heavy neutron-rich nuclei produced using new methods involving sequential reactions in plasma
- The stopping power of charged particles bunches in dense plasmas
- Nuclear reactions in hot and dense plasmas simulating in the laboratory the astrophysical phenomena
- Nuclear excitations and de-excitations in plasmas leading to changes in (apparent) nuclear lifetimes
As an example of exotic reactions, we will explore the production of astrophysical relevant neutron-rich nuclei around the N=126 waiting point, by using solid-state density bunches of heavy ions accelerated to around 10 MeV/nucleon through the Radiation Pressure Acceleration (RPA) mechanism, and employing a sequential fission-fusion scheme. This will help elucidate the mystery of high-Z element formation in the Universe. The proposed scheme is complementary to any other existing or planned method of producing radioactive nuclei.
Strong-field QED
The extremely high laser intensities achievable at ELI-NP will create ultrahigh electric and magnetic fields in the focus of the laser beams and will allow the exploration of quantum electrodynamics in new regimes. Exciting prospects are concerned with:
- The study of quantum radiation reaction on beam and plasma electrons accelerated abruptly by the laser field
- The production of abundant electron-positron pairs and energetic gamma-rays in laser interactions with electrons
- High energy gamma-catalyzed production of electron-positron pairs from vacuum, in the laser focus
For example, the main QED processes predicted to be important at the laser intensities achievable at ELI-NP are:
- The nonlinear inverse Compton scattering, where a large fraction (up to ~50%) of the energy of accelerated electrons is converted into gamma-rays by the laser field
- The production of electron-positron pairs by the multiphoton Breit-Wheeler process which generates further photons and pairs, resulting in a cascade of pair production
This research will push the limits of our present knowledge of the interaction of light with matter, as described by quantum electrodynamics.
Materials in extreme radiation environments
In the E5 experimental area, the study of materials behavior in extreme radiation environments will be the main topic, leading to the development of industrial and societal applications. The foreseen studies are relevant for the understanding of:
- The structural materials degradation in the next generation particle accelerators and fusion or fission energy reactors
- The interaction of biological systems with tunable multi-component radiation characterized by a wide energy spectrum. This will help to improve radioprotection in space missions, and potentially enable new pathways of cancer radiotherapy.
For example, testing of novel materials and accelerator components that will be part of the future facilities such as FAIR, High Lumi-LHC, FRIB, neutrino factories, and ESS, in radiation, temperature, and pressure conditions similar to their operation scenarios, will be possible by using "cocktails" of laser-driven particles and laser-induced shock waves.
In support of the above research, the LDED group will also investigate efficient methods of electron and ion acceleration, and novel instrumentation and diagnostic methods for the proposed experiments. New diagnostic methods, ranging from the optical to the nuclear field, are necessary because of the unprecedented laser intensities at ELI-NP. A well-equipped laboratory will enable producing on-site sophisticated laser targets, including nanostructured targets. Users will perform all these research and development activities through international collaborations towards optimizing experimental setups and diagnostics and developing future research directions.
Want to join or team? ELI-NP LDED has open positions! Please check the Jobs section for available positions and information on how to apply.