Project description
Plasma accelerator technology takes a giant leap forward
Europe is at the forefront of innovation in particle accelerators. From health and energy to security applications, the technology can benefit society even outside the laboratory. Plasma accelerators utilising high-power lasers offer a way to build high-performance particle accelerators of much smaller sizes than conventional devices. These accelerators typically use near-infrared lasers. Capitalising on advances in carbon dioxide lasers, the EU-funded LILDIA project will develop repetitive ion accelerators driven by high-power longer-wavelength infrared pulses. The high-intensity laser fields will be strong enough to accelerate plasma to velocities approaching the speed of light. The project aims to break new ground in particle accelerators that are compact and less costly than traditional ones.
Objective
"Europe is taking a world-leading role in developing new technologies crucial for meeting the needs of the multi-billion-euro particle accelerator market in healthcare, science and industry. Laser driven plasma accelerators are a disruptive technology developing hand-in-hand with the ongoing revolution in high power lasers. Research in laser driven accelerators typically utilise near-IR pulses, but there are benefits in using longer laser wavelengths which enables the use of lower density plasmas, boosting some accelerator properties. This project will capitalise on recent advances in CO2 lasers to experimentally develop repetitive ion accelerators driven by high-power longwave infrared pulses, which are focused to intensities so extreme that a plasma at laser focus is driven to velocities approaching the speed of light. This project will do this through three main research thrusts: 1) development of novel and comprehensive diagnostics for high repetition rate, enabling 2) the first characterisation of ""electrostatic collisionless shockwaves"" in high intensity-gas interaction, thought to accelerate narrowband ion beams, and 3) the investigation of high intensity laser solid interaction with unprecedented diagnostic access made possible by the long laser wavelength, providing unique insight into fundamentals which underpin the ion acceleration process. The project will therefore develop a new frontier in intense laser-plasma interactions and energetic ion sources with extremely high peak current, low transverse emittance and easily varied ion species, providing a promising alternative to conventional accelerators. This cutting-edge research combined with advanced training and networking opportunities at Imperial College London will not only position me at the front of an emerging field, enhancing future career prospects, but also reinforce European R&D in advanced accelerator concepts from a new perspective."
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics particle accelerator
- social sciences political sciences political transitions revolutions
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
SW7 2AZ London
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.