Maria Pia Anania

• Rome Tre - Electronical Eng.
• Researcher at INFN - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare

An overview of the 200 TW Frascati Laser for Acceleration and Multidisciplinary Experiments (FLAME) at the SPARC_LAB Test Facility at the National Laboratories of Frascati (LNF-INFN) is presented. The FLAME laser is employed to investigate different laser–matter interaction schemes, i.e., electron acceleration and secondary radiation sources throug...

The EuPRAXIA EU project is at the forefront of advancing particle accelerator research and the development of photon sources through innovative plasma acceleration approaches. Within this framework, the EuAPS project aims to exploit laser wakefield acceleration to build and operate a betatron radiation source at the INFN Frascati National Laborator...

Plasma wakefield acceleration revolutionized the field of particle accelerators by generating gigavolt-per-centimeter fields. To compete with conventional radio-frequency (RF) accelerators, plasma technology must demonstrate operation at high repetition rates, with a recent research showing feasibility at megahertz levels using an Argon source that...

Plasma wakefield acceleration revolutionized the field of particle accelerators by generating gigavolt-per-centimeter fields. To compete with conventional radio-frequency (RF) accelerators, plasma technology must demonstrate operation at high repetition rates, with a recent research showing feasibility at megahertz levels using an Argon source that...

We present a new approach that demonstrates the deflection and guiding of relativistic electron beams over curved paths by means of the magnetic field generated in a plasma-discharge capillary. We experimentally prove that the guiding is much less affected by the beam chromatic dispersion with respect to a conventional bending magnet and, with the...

Plasma wakefield acceleration represented a breakthrough in the field of particle accelerators by pushing beams to gigaelectronvolt energies within centimeter distances. The large electric fields excited by a driver pulse in the plasma can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch paving the way toward the realization of laboratory-scale appl...

Plasma wakefield acceleration represented a breakthrough in the field of particle accelerators by pushing beams to gigaelectronvolt energies within centimeter distances. The large electric fields excited by a driver pulse in the plasma can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch paving the way toward the realization of laboratory-scale appl...

The SPARC_LAB test facility at the LNF (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Rome) holds a high brightness photo-injector used to investigate advanced beam manipulation techniques. High brightness electron bunch trains (so-called comb beams) can be generated striking on the photo-cathode of a Radio Frequency (RF) photo-injector with a ultra-short UV l...

Novel particle accelerators based on plasma technology allow a drastic reduction in size, due to the high accelerating field established inside plasmas, which are created and confined by specific devices. Plasma Wakefield Acceleration experiments are performed at the SPARC_LAB test facility (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati - INFN) by using gas-fil...

Novel particle accelerators based on plasma technology allow a drastic reduction in size, due to the high accelerating field established inside plasmas, which are created and confined by specific devices. Plasma Wakefield Acceleration experiments are performed at the SPARC_LAB test facility (Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati-INFN) by using gas-fille...

In modern particle accelerators involving short (few hundreds of fs or less) photon and particle beams, a crucial requirement is the arrival timing jitter and its modeling, taking into account different noise sources. This paper considers the arrival timing jitter of an electron beam measured at the SPARC LAB photo-injector test facility (INFN-LNF,...

The core purpose of this research is to use optical emission spectroscopy to determine the electron temperature ( T e ) of a hydrogen plasma generated in a capillary discharge plasma, with a focus on its temporal variation. The plasma density ( n e ) is first determined using the Stark broadening technique, which measures the broadening of spectral...

EuPRAXIA@SPARC LAB is a new multidisciplinary user-facility that is currently under construction at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of the INFN in the framework of the EuPRAXIA collaboration. The electron beam will be accelerated by an X-band normal conducting linac followed by a Plasma WakeField Acceleration (PWFA) stage. It will be character...

Plasma technology offers revolutionary potential for particle accelerators by enabling the acceleration of electron beams to ultra-relativistic velocities in a small-scale dimension. The compact nature of plasma-based accelerators permits the creation of accelerating gradients on the GV scale. Plasma acceleration structures are created by utilizing...

Compact accelerator machines are capable of producing accelerating gradients in the GV/m scale, which is significantly higher than the MV/m scale of conventional machines. As accelerators are widely used in many fields, such as industrial, research institutes, and medical applications, the development of these machines will undoubtedly have a profo...

We report the experimental activity on the plasma-discharge capillary tubes suitable for plasma-based accelerators (PBAs) carried out at the SPARC LAB (sources for plasma accelerators and compton with laser and beam) test-facility. A high-voltage discharge is produced inside a Hydrogen-filled capillary tube. Through spectroscopic techniques, the de...

In this article, we share our experience related to the new photo-injector commissioning at the SPARC_LAB test facility. The new photo-injector was installed into an existing machine and our goal was not only to improve the final beam parameters themselves but to improve the machine handling in day-to-day operations as well. Thus, besides the pure...

In this article, we share our experience related to the new photo-injector commissioning at the SPARC\_LAB test facility. The new photo-injector was installed into an existing machine and our goal was not only to improve the final beam parameters themselves but to improve the machine handling in day-to-day operations as well. Thus, besides the pure...

The breakthrough provided by plasma-based accelerators enabled unprecedented accelerating fields by boosting electron beams to gigaelectronvolt energies within a few centimeters [1–4]. This, in turn, allows the realization of ultracompact light sources based on free-electron lasers (FELs) [5], as demonstrated by two pioneering experiments that repo...

The research concerns the study of the plasma sources for plasma-based accelerators (PBAs) at the SPARC_LAB test-facility (LNF-INFN). The interest in compact accelerators , overcoming the gigantism of the conventional radio-frequency (RF) accelerators, is growing in High Energy Physics. The plasma-based accelerating gradients can attain the GV/m sc...

The possibility to accelerate electron beams to ultra-relativistic velocities over short distances by using plasma-based technology holds the potential for a revolution in the field of particle accelerators1–4. The compact nature of plasma-based accelerators would allow the realization of table-top machines capable of driving a free-electron laser...

EuPRAXIA is a leading European project aimed at the development of a dedicated, ground-breaking, ultra-compact accelerator research infrastructure based on novel plasma acceleration concepts and laser technology and on the development of their users’ communities. Within this framework, the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF, INFN) will be equipp...

Towards the next generation of compact plasma-based accelerators, useful in several fields, such as basic research, medicine and industrial applications, a great effort is required to control the plasma creation, the necessity of producing a time-jitter free channel, and its stability namely uniformity and reproducibility. In this Letter, we descri...

Towards the next generation of compact plasma-based accelerators, useful in several fields, such as basic research, medicine and industrial applications, a great effort is required to control the plasma creation, the necessity of producing a time-jitter free channel, and its stability namely uniformity and reproducibility. In this Letter, we descri...

One of the most important features of plasma-based accelerators is their compactness because plasma modules can have dimensions of the order of mm cm−1 , providing very high-accelerating fields up to hundreds of GV m−1 . The main challenge regarding this type of acceleration lies in controlling and characterising the plasma itself, which then deter...

One of the most important features of plasma-based accelerators is their compactness because plasma modules can have dimensions of the order of mm/cm, providing very high accelerating fields up to hundreds of GV/m. The main challenge regarding this type of acceleration lies in controlling and characterising the plasma itself, and therefore in the s...

Plasma-based technology promises a tremendous reduction in size of accelerators used for research, medical, and industrial applications, making it possible to develop tabletop machines accessible for a broader scientific community. The use of high-power laser pulses on gaseous targets is a promising method for the generation of accelerated electron...

Plasma-based technology promises a tremendous reduction in size of accelerators used for research, medical, and industrial applications, making it possible to develop tabletop machines accessible for a broader scientific community. The use of high-power laser pulses on gaseous targets is a promising method for the generation of accelerated electron...

SABINA (Source of Advanced Beam Imaging for Novel Applications) is a project aimed at the enhancement of the SPARC_LAB research facility. This enhancement is carried out through the following actions: first, the increase of the uptime through the consolidation of technological systems and the replacement of some critical equipment in order to limit...

The development of compact accelerator machines is leading towards the use of plasma-based devices able to sustain large acceleration gradients up to several tens of GV/m. The main issue, at this regard, is due to the necessity to produce the plasma shot-by-shot starting from neutral gases, being its lifetime limited to few tens of microseconds. Th...

The development of compact accelerator machines is leading towards the use of plasma-based devices that are able to sustain large acceleration gradients up to several tens of GV m⁻¹. The main issue, in this regard, is due to the necessity to produce the plasma shot-by-shot starting from neutral gases, since its lifetime is limited to a few tens of...

A parabolic profile plasma channel formed by an electric discharge inside gas-filled capillaries are currently used to achieve optimal conditions for laser guiding and electron acceleration. Acceleration of high quality externally injected electron beam by laser-induced wakefield requires precise synchronization between several systems. In our expe...

Next-generation plasma-based accelerators can push electron beams to GeV energies within centimeter distances. The plasma, excited by a driver pulse, is indeed able to sustain huge electric fields that can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch, which was experimentally demonstrated on multiple occasions. Thus, the main focus of the curren...

Next-generation plasma-based accelerators can push electron beams to GeV energies within centimetre distances. The plasma, excited by a driver pulse, is indeed able to sustain huge electric fields that can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch, which was experimentally demonstrated on multiple occasions. Thus, the main focus of the curren...

Next-generation plasma-based accelerators can push electron bunches to gigaelectronvolt energies within centimetre distances1,2. The plasma, excited by a driver pulse, generates large electric fields that can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch3–5, enabling the realization of laboratory-scale applications ranging from high-energy collid...

Time-Of-Flight (TOF) methods are very effective to detect particles accelerated in laser-plasma interactions, but they show significant limitations when used in experiments with high energy and intensity lasers, where both high-energy ions and remarkable levels of ElectroMagnetic Pulses (EMPs) in the radiofrequency-microwave range are generated. He...

This report presents the conceptual design of a new European research infrastructure EuPRAXIA. The concept has been established over the last four years in a unique collaboration of 41 laboratories within a Horizon 2020 design study funded by the European Union. EuPRAXIA is the first European project that develops a dedicated particle accelerator r...

This report presents the conceptual design of a new European research infrastructure EuPRAXIA. The concept has been established over the last four years in a unique collaboration of 41 laboratories within a Horizon 2020 design study funded by the European Union. EuPRAXIA is the first European project that develops a dedicated particle accelerator r...

Figure 20.1 was not correct in the published article. The original article has been corrected. The published apologizes for the inconvenience.

In the last decades the development of laser-driven acceleration and inertial fusion fields of research required the commissioning of laser systems with increasing power and repetion rate. This was accompained by a sensible growth of the produced electromagnetic pulses (EMP) inside the experimental chamber and on its surrounding, hindering the empl...

The interaction of an ultra-intense laser with a solid state target allows the production of multi-MeV proton and ion beams. This process is explained by the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) model, predicting the creation of an electric field on the target rear side, due to an unbalanced positive charge. This process is related to the emiss...

The interaction of an ultra-intense laser with a solid state target allows the production of multi-MeV proton and ion beams. This process is explained by the TNSA model, predicting the creation of an electric field on the target rear side, due to an unbalanced positive charge. This process is related to the emission of relativistic ul-trafast elect...

High-intensity ultrashort laser pulses interacting with thin solid targets are able to produce energetic ion beams by means of extremely large accelerating fields set by the energetic ejected electrons. The characterization of such electrons is thus important in view of a complete understanding of the acceleration process. Here, we present a comple...

In the last decades the development of laser-driven acceleration and inertial fusion fields of research required the commissioning of laser systems with increasing power and repetition rate. This was accompanied by a sensible growth of the produced electromagnetic pulses (EMP) inside the experimental chamber and on its surrounding, hindering the em...

External injection is a promising method to achieve high accelerating gradients and to control the beam properties. The energy gain of an electron via the wakefield is proportional to the product of the accelerating field multiplied by the effective propagation distance of the laser. Therefore, in order to bring the electron energy in the order of...

High-intensity ultrashort laser pulses interacting with thin solid targets are able to produce energetic ion beams by means of extremely large accelerating fields set by the energetic ejected electrons. The characterization of such electrons is thus important in view of a complete understanding of the acceleration process. Here, we present a comple...

The interaction of ultra-intense high-power lasers with solid-state targets has been largely studied for the past 20 years as a future compact proton and ion source. Indeed, the huge potential established on the target surface by the escaping electrons provides accelerating gradients of TV/m. This process, called target normal sheath acceleration,...

Next-generation plasma-based accelerators can push electron bunches to gigaelectronvolt energies within centimetre distances. The plasma, excited by a driver pulse, generates large electric fields that can efficiently accelerate a trailing witness bunch making possible the realization of laboratory-scale applications ranging from high-energy collid...

The interaction of ultra-intense high power lasers with solid-state targets have been largely studied for twenty years as future compact proton and ion source. Indeed, the huge potential established on the target surface by the escaping electrons provides accelerating gradients of TV/m. This process, called TNSA, involves a large number of phenomen...

Time-Of-Flight (TOF) methods are very effective to detect particles accelerated in laser-plasma interactions, but they shows significant limitations when used in experiments with high energy and intensity lasers, where both high-energy ions and remarkable levels of ElectroMagnetic Pulses (EMPs) in the radiofrequency-microwave range are generated. H...

High intensity ultrashort laser pulses interacting with thin solid targets are able to produce energetic protons and ions by means of extremely large accelerating fields, generated by escaping electrons. The characterization of such electrons is thus a key factor for the understanding of the accelerating potential temporal evolution. Here, we prese...

High intensity ultrashort laser pulses interacting with thin solid targets are able to produce energetic protons and ions by means of extremely large accelerating fields, generated by escaping electrons. The characterization of such electrons is thus a key parameter for the understanding of the accelerating potential temporal evolution. Here, we pr...

Background: Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods...

In this paper, we show how plasma discharge capillaries can be numerically modeled as resistors within an RLC-series discharge circuit, allowing for a simple description of these systems, while taking into account heat and radiation losses. An analytic radial model is also provided and compared to the numerical model for plasma discharge capillarie...

The Horizon 2020 project EuPRAXIA (European Plasma Research Accelerator with eXcellence In Applications) is producing a conceptual design report for a highly compact and cost-effective European facility with multi-GeV electron beams accelerated using plasmas. EuPRAXIA will be set up as a distributed Open Innovation platform with two construction si...

Background: Ileus is common after elective colorectal surgery, and is associated with increased adverse events and prolonged hospital stay. The aim was to assess the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for reducing ileus after surgery. Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort study was delivered by an international, student-...

Plasma accelerators present one of the most suitable candidates for the development of more compact particle acceleration technologies, yet they still lag behind radiofrequency (RF)-based devices when it comes to beam quality, control, stability and power efficiency. The Horizon 2020-funded project EuPRAXIA (“European Plasma Research Accelerator wi...

Interaction between high-intensity lasers with solid targets is the key process in a wide range of novel laser-based particle accelerator schemes, as well as electromagnetic radiation sources. Common to all the processes is the generation of femtosecond pulses of relativistic electrons emitted from the targets as forerunners of the later-time princ...

Laser–plasma interactions have been studied in detail over the past twenty years, as they show great potential for the next generation of particle accelerators. The interaction between an ultra-intense laser and a solid-state target produces a huge amount of particles: electrons and photons (X-rays and gamma-rays) at early stages of the process, wi...

Interaction between high-intensity lasers with solid targets is the key process in a wide range of novel laser based particle accelerator schemes as well as electromagnetic radiation sources. Common to all the processes is the generation of femtosecond pulses of relativistic electrons emitted from the targets as forerunners of the later time princi...

Laser-plasma interactions have been extremely studied in the last twenty years, showing great potentialities for the next generation of particle accelerators. The interaction between an ultra-intense laser and a solid state target produces a huge amount of particles: electrons and photons (x-rays and γ-rays) at early stages of the process, protons...

Time-of-flight (TOF) measurements are a powerful and effective method to obtain timely spectra of particles accelerated via laser-plasma interaction experiments. However, the intense interactions achieved in high power laser facilities usually generate strong Electromagnetic Pulses (EMPs), which remarkably affect the signal-to-noise ratio of electr...

The development of compact accelerator facilities providing high-brightness beams is one of the most challenging tasks in the field of next-generation compact and cost affordable particle accelerators, to be used in many fields for industrial, medical, and research applications. The ability to shape the beam longitudinal phase space, in particular,...

Plasma confinement represents a crucial point for plasma-based accelerators and plasma lenses because it can strongly affect the beam properties. For this reason, an accurate measurement of the plasma parameters, as plasma temperature, pressure and electron density, must be performed. In this paper, we introduce a novel method to detect the plasma...

The development of compact accelerator facilities providing high-brightness beams is one of the most challenging tasks in field of next-generation compact and cost affordable particle accelerators, to be used in many fields for industrial, medical and research applications. The ability to shape the beam longitudinal phase-space, in particular, play...

In this paper a technique to measure the phase space and the rms emittance of plasma accelerated electron beams is described. The first tests have been performed at the SPARC-LAB test facility through the interaction of the ultra-short ultra-intense Ti:Sa laser FLAME with a He gas-jet target. The proposed technique seems to be promising for the det...

The ability to guide high-energy femtosecond scale lasers while augmenting their energy is crucial in future laser based TeV particle accelerators where the laser energy depletion is the major setback. We propose, analyze, and experimentally demonstrate consolidating multiple femtosecond pulse lasers in coupled curved capillaries. We demonstrate a...

Plasma-based technology promises a tremendous reduction in size of accelerators used for research, medical, and industrial applications, making it possible to develop tabletop machines accessible for a broader scientific community. By overcoming current limits of conventional accelerators and pushing particles to larger and larger energies, the ava...

Plasma-based acceleration experiments require capillaries with a radius of a few hundred microns to confine plasma up to a centimeter scale capillary length. A long and controlled plasma channel allows to sustain high fields which may be used for manipulation of the electron beams or to accelerate electrons. The production of these capillaries is r...

Consolidating multiple high-energy femtosecond scale lasers is expected to enable implementation of cutting edge research areas varying from wakefield particle accelerators to ultra-high intensity laser pulses for basic fresearch. The ability to guide while augmenting a short-pulse laser is crucial in future laser based TeV particle accelerators wh...

Advanced diagnostics are essential tools in the development of plasma-based accelerators. The accurate measurement of the quality of beams at the exit of the plasma channel is crucial to optimize the parameters of the plasma accelerator. 6D electron beam diagnostics will be reviewed with emphasis on emittance measurement, which is particularly comp...

One of the key elements of the plasma wakefield blowout regime is the strong, linear focusing provided by the ion density. One advantage of this focusing is its extraordinary strength whose gradient is proportional to the local background plasma density, that is particularly important for adiabatic focusing schemes in future compact linear collider...

Multi MeV protons \cite{snavely2000intense} and heavier ions are emitted by thin foils irradiated by high-intensity lasers, due to the huge accelerating fields, up to several teraelectronvolt per meter, at sub-picosecond timescale \cite{dubois2014target}. The evolution of these huge fields is not well understood till today. Here we report, for the...

Active plasma lenses are promising technologies for the focusing of high brightness electron beams due to their radially symmetric focusing and their high field gradients (up to several kT/m). However, in a number of experimental situations, the transverse non-uniformity of the current density flowing in the lens causes beam emittance growth and in...

Multi MeV protons (Snavely et al., 2000) and heavier ions are emitted by thin foils irradiated by high-intensity lasers, due to the huge accelerating fields, up to several teraelectronvolt per meter, at sub-picosecond timescale (Dubois et al., 2014). The evolution of these huge fields is not well understood till today. Here we report, for the first...

Plasma wakefield acceleration, either driven by ultra-short laser pulses or electron bunches, represents one of the most promising techniques able to overcome the limits of conventional RF technology and allows the development of compact accelerators. In the particle beam-driven scenario, ultra-short bunches with tiny spot sizes are required to enh...

Plasma confinement inside capillaries has been developed in the past years for plasma-based acceleration to ensure a stable and repeatable plasma density distribution during the interaction with either particles or laser beams. In particular, gas-filled capillaries allow a stable and almost predictable plasma distribution along the interaction with...

Plasma confinement inside capillaries has been developed in the past years for plasma-based acceleration to ensure a stable and repeatable plasma density distribution during the interaction with either particles or laser beams. In particular, gas-filled capillaries allow a stable and almost predictable plasma distribution along the interaction with...

The interaction of high-power ultra-short lasers with materials offers fascinating wealth of transient phenomena which are in the core of novel scientific research. Deciphering its evolution is a complicated task that strongly depends on the details of the early phase of the interaction, which acts as complex initial conditions. The entire process,...

A design study of the diagnostics of a high brightness linac, based on X-band structures, and a plasma accelerator stage, has been delivered in the framework of the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB project. In this paper, we present a conceptual design of the proposed diagnostics, using state of the art systems and new and under development devices. Single shot...

A design study of the diagnostics of a high brightness linac, based on X-band structures, and a plasma accelerator stage, has been delivered in the framework of the EuPRAXIA@SPARC_LAB project. In this paper, we present a conceptual design of the proposed diagnostics, using state of the art systems and new and under development devices. Single shot...

Plasma wakefield acceleration is the most promising acceleration technique for compact and cheap accelerators, thanks to the high accelerating gradients achievable. Nevertheless, this approach still suffers of shot-to-shot instabilities, mostly related to experimental parameters fluctuations. Therefore, the use of single shot diagnostics is needed...

Plasma wakefield acceleration is the most promising acceleration technique for compact and cheap accelerators, thanks to the high accelerating gradients achievable. Nevertheless, this approach still suffers of shot-to-shot instabilities, mostly related to experimental parameters fluctuations. Therefore, the use of single shot diagnostics is needed...

Coherent radiation produced by relativistic charged bunches is nowadays of great interest for user-oriented applications and high-resolution diagnostics. Here we present experimental results obtained by using a temporal monitor based on the electro-optical sampling that allows us to reveal the features of the radiation emitted in terahertz range by...

The plasma-based acceleration is an encouraging technique to overcome the limits of the accelerating gradient in the conventional RF acceleration. A plasma accelerator is able to provide accelerating fields up to hundreds of $GeV/m$, paving the way to accelerate particles to several MeV over a short distance (below the millimetre range). Here the c...

Beam injection and extraction from a plasma module is still one of the crucial aspects to solve in order to produce high quality electron beams with a plasma accelerator. Proper matching conditions require to focus the incoming high brightness beam down to few microns size and to capture a high divergent beam at the exit without loss of beam qualit...

FLAME is a high power laser system installed at the SPARC_LAB Test Facility in Frascati (Italy). The ultra-intense laser pulses are employed to study the interaction with matter for many purposes: electron acceleration through LWFA, ion and proton generation exploiting the TNSA mechanism, study of new radiation sources and development of new electr...

The plasma-based acceleration is an encouraging technique to overcome the limits of the accelerating gradient in the conventional RF acceleration. A plasma accelerator is able to provide accelerating fields up to hundreds of $GeV/m$, paving the way to accelerate particles to several MeV over a short distance (below the millimetre range). Here the c...