Introduction
ELI-NP is a User Facility where researchers from around the world can propose experiments to be conducted in fundamental physics,
new nuclear physics and astrophysics, applications in nuclear materials, radioactive waste management, material science and life sciences and even commercial endeavors.
In this Guide, we will highlight the technical aspects and best practices of the facility as well as detail the proposal submission and review process.
Further questions can be directed to the User Office ( users@eli-np.ro) and will be rerouted to the appropriate department.
The laser system was built and installed by the Thales LAS France. It consists of three high-power beamlines with nominal peak powers of 100 TW, 1 PW, and 10 PW.
All three beamlines have a dual-arm architecture and are fed by the central laser source. For achieving the high powers, an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA)
front end was implemented, followed by chirped-pulse power amplifiers based on state-of-the-art Ti:Sa crystals and dedicated pulse compressors.
For a detailed description of the HPLS, please refer to this publication:
High-energy hybrid femtosecond laser system demonstrating 2 × 10 PW capability
Laser Parameters upon request (particular laser parameters can be found in the pages for the experimental halls)
- Energy can be changed in incremental steps (not continuous) that should be discussed with the laser team to be optimized specifically.
- Low energy pulses for alignment can be requested.
Pulse duration
- Pulse duration can be optimized using a Dazzler AOPDF for the experiment and the specific target interaction. The pulse can also be stretched at the request of the users to about 1 ps (positive and negative chirp).
Wavefront
- Wavefront can be optimized together with the users for their specific purpose.
Repetition rate
The pulses can be delivered:
- nominal repetition rate
- a series of pulses on demand
- an integer subdivision of the nominal repetition rate
Laser diagnostic data
Each output has its own diagnostic bench. In each compressor the leakage is taken from the last turning mirror and is demagnified and directed to its diagnostic bench.
- Energy – on shot measured on the diagnostic bench, can be calibrated for the experiment
- Beam profile - on shot Near field and far field on the diagnostic bench
- Wavefront – on shot on the diagnostic bench
- Pulse duration – optimized for the experimental campaign and measured on request
- Temporal contrast – measured on request on the diagnostic bench
Experimental Areas
The experimental areas were designed with particular experiments in mind, for which the beam path, arrangement of the vacuum chambers, and radioprotection were optimized. With that said, other types of experiments can be performed in a particular experimental area and associated chambers as long as this does not raise insurmountable technical and radioprotection issues.
10 PW beams
- E1: Nuclear physics experiments with solid targets, production of high fluxes of energetic ion beams (ideally monoenergetic) and neutrons, and intense X-ray flares
- E6: QED and nuclear physics experiments with gas targets, production of GeV electrons at high intensity for radiation reaction studies
- E7: Combined laser and γ radiation experiments, production and photoexcitation of isomers, radiation reaction, pair production in the extremely nonlinear regime, vacuum birefringence
1 PW beams
- E5: Applied experiments, medical research, production of MeV ions, and preliminary studies for 10 PW system using gas and solid targets
- E7: Combined laser and γ radiation experiments, production and photoexcitation of isomers, radiation reaction
100 TW beams
- E4: Fundamental physics, search for weakly coupling sub-eV dark matter, electron acceleration in gas targets, medical and material science applications
Available Experimental Areas for Current Call
Image Plate Scanner
- FujiFilm Typhoon FLA 7000 with eraser
- BAS IP MS (limited quantities)
- BAS IP SR (limited quantities)
RCF Scanner
- RCF Scanner: Epson V850 Location: LP14
Contact person: Marius Gugiu
to be completed
Target Laboratory
Optics Laboratory
Laser Experiments Diagnostics Laboratory
Biophysics and Biomedical Applications
Mechanical and Electrical Support
- Helping to handle the equipment up to the installation site, according to the general rules and regulations for the ELI-NP site;
- Ensuring the connection of the equipment to the utilities networks, based on the documentation provided by the users;
- In case of equipment failure, at the request of users, providing assistance (within the competences of our technical staff), in order to ensure continuous operation;
- Participation of staff members from the Technical Division to meetings with users, before starting experiments, to understand the needs for handling, installing and connecting equipment to utilities.