Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory - ILIL

06/04/2026

JUST PUBLISHED. An original study of a laser-plasma accelerator of Very High Energy Electrons (VHEE) led by Federico Avella. A model that puts together some of the most advanced concepts of injection, acceleration, extraction and transport of electrons, combined to deliver bunches with the best combination of charge, energy spread and emittance required for effective application of future biomedical applications of VHEE beams.

We present a numerical study on a structured plasma target to simultaneously improve the energy spread and divergence of a laser-driven very high energy electro

08/01/2025

Just published! A comprehensive and updated overview of radiotherapy with Very High Energy Electron (VHEE), also covering the FLASH approach and all VHEE beam generators techniques.
Open access.

The use of very high energy electron (VHEE) beams, with energies between 50 and 400 MeV, has drawn considerable interest in radiotherapy due to their deep tissue pe*******on, sharp beam edges, and low sensitivity to tissue density. VHEE beams can be precisely steered with magnetic components, positi...

08/01/2025

At ILIL we are hiring laser specialists to join our laser development programme. ILIL Is a host Laboratory for the PACRI EU Infratech project. Among the different challenges, we lead the PACRI kHz technology development for intense lasers needed for future laser-plasma accelerators. PACRI is part of a wide programme at the Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory dedicated to high power laser development that tackles different aspects of this critical technology, including gain materials, amplifier architectures, heat management and much more. If you are a laser specialist, contact us for more information on the available positions.

We are excited to announce the launch of the PACRI project (Plasma Accelerator System for Compact Research Infrastructure) in March 2025. This ambitious initiative, funded by the European Commission, brings together a collaborative network of 19 partners, including esteemed universities and international research laboratories, alongside seven industrial partners.

The CNR will play a pivotal role in this project, which is set to run for four years.
aims to complement existing European research infrastructures, specifically EuPRAXIA and ELI ERIC, by developing innovative technologies that will advance the capabilities in plasma acceleration.

What is ? EuPRAXIA seeks to establish the first high-energy plasma-based accelerator that delivers industrial-quality beams and user areas.
What about ? ELI ERIC is the world's largest and most advanced high-power laser infrastructure.

With a funding allocation of €10 million from the European Commission, PACRI is designed to create a revolution in plasma technologies. The focus is on reducing facility size, energy consumption, and costs while minimising environmental impact. The project aims to generate unique particle and photon beams for applications in ultrafast science, high-precision medical imaging, materials diagnostics, and medical treatments.

For more details and to learn more about the project, please read the Article at https://acceleratingnews.eu/news/issue-49/eupraxia-eup/new-eu-project-aims-advance-plasma-accelerator-technologies-benefit

INFN - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste
CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

20/09/2024

Venerdì 27 Settembre 2024 torna BRIGHT, la Notte Europea delle Ricercatrici e dei Ricercatori. Il programma completo delle iniziative a Pisa è disponibile alla pagina web https://nottedeiricercatori.pisa.it . La sezione pisana dell’Istituto Nazionale di Ottica contribuirà alle attività presso l’Area della Ricerca CNR con la ormai tradizionale Ludoteca Scientifica, rivolta soprattutto ai più piccoli, e con la possibilità, per la prima volta, di partecipare ad una Quantum Escape Room.

Sarà inoltre possibile visitare il laboratorio ILIL con il “superlaser”, ed a seguire partecipare ad alcuni “laboratori aperti” (dalle 16 alle 20) su esperimenti di ottica per stimolare la curiosità di grandi e piccini (visita e laboratori su prenotazione a https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bright-night-2024-visita-al-laser-super-intenso-tickets-1015436567107?aff=oddtdtcreator ) .

Nella sessione “Bright Tech Talk” (pillole di scienza e altro in 8 minuti) la giovane ricercatrice INO Costanza Panaino affronterà un tema molto delicato come la radioterapia, facendoci capire quanta fisica e scienza stanno dietro un trattamento radioterapico.

Infine, calato il buio, si potranno fare osservazioni astronomiche al telescopio (su prenotazione a https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bright-night-2024-osservatorio-astronomico-tickets-1015975809997?aff=oddtdtcreator ).

17/07/2024

The 3D printing lab being set up to be online soon to support project development at the Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory - ILIL.
https://www.tuscanyhealthecosystem.it/
http://www.pi.ino.cnr.it/sites/the/

15/06/2024

Just published. A full experimental demonstration of non destructive material analysis using a compact proton accelerator activated by a high intensity laser. At the Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory - ILIL of the CNR - Istituto Nazionale di Ottica - Pisa.

Particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) is a well-established ion-beam analysis technique, enabling quantitative measurement of the elemental composition of a sample surface under an ambient atmosphere with an external beam, which significantly simplifies the measurements, and is strictly necessary f...

24/03/2024

Eagar to join our Lab as a PhD student? Apply to the Pisa University call for a PhD position as a first step. Deadline is April 22nd.

- Biology - Computer Science - PhD Programme joint with University of Florence, University of Siena, University of Pisa- Clinical and Translational Sciences- Clinical Physiopathology - Information Engineering- Legal Sciences- Mathematics  - Physics - PhD Programme with the National Instit...

05/02/2024

A step closer to energy production with fusion using lasers.

Experiments suggest that, with enough laser power, “direct drive” technique should produce energy gain

22/12/2023

A great event embracing the development of novel Very High Energy Electron beam radiotherapy using high intensity lasers!
Organized by the team at the Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory - ILIL in collaboration with CNR Area della Ricerca Pisa.

One year has gone by since the start of the Tuscany Health Ecosystem project, One of the largest regional research and innovation initiative ever, gathering all leading Universities and Research institutions in Tuscany.
Spoke1 is one of the ten subprojects, targeting advanced diagnostic and radiotherapy solutions for tumor treatment, from FLASH research to radiopharmaceuticals, from fundamentals to clinics.
The third meeting marked the maturity of the planned research platforms with a wealth of new results emerging, driven by the vitality of the newly hired researchers.
With CNR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica del CNR, Università di Pisa, Università degli Studi di Firenze, INFN - Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare.

https://www.tuscanyhealthecosystem.it/
http://www.pi.ino.cnr.it/sites/the/
Group photo by Antonio Rizzo.

30/11/2023

A new paper just published on Scientific Reports, reporting an experimental campaign at in 2020, aimed at investigating the origin of Hot Electrons in laser interaction conditions relevant for . A fruitful collaboration of -CNR with York Plasma Institute, University of Bordeaux, JIHT RAS and other research groups.

Shock Ignition is a two-step scheme to reach Inertial Confinement Fusion, where the precompressed fuel capsule is ignited by a strong shock driven by a laser pulse at an intensity in the order of $$10^{16}$$ W/cm $$^2$$ . In this report we describe the results of an experiment carried out at PALS la...

18/10/2023

The Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory - ILIL is promoting a European collaboration for the development of Inertial Fusion Energy research. In this newly published manuscript we outline the Roadmap for IFE in Europe, highlighting science, technology and social impact of this endeavour. The ultimate goal is the construction of a cutting edge research Infrastructure for the proof of principle demontration of direct-drive, high gain inertial fusion ignition and for the prototyping of all needed components for the future IFE reactor for electricity production. A long ride towards a future of endless and clean energy.

Future for Inertial Fusion Energy in Europe: A roadmap

18/10/2023

Researchers of the Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory - ILIL are co-authoring this newly published article on a collaborative study on laser-plasma instabilities with their founding knowledge on the experimental investigation of laser-plasma interactions relevant for inertial confinement fusion energy research.

We report on the commissioning of a full aperture backscatter diagnostics station for the kilojoule, nanosecond high repetition rate L4n laser operating at a wa