Speaker
Description
The Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics (ELI NP) facility in Măgurele, Romania, operates the world’s most powerful laser system, capable of delivering two 10-PW pulses per minute. This facility is at the forefront of cutting-edge research in laser-driven particle acceleration and high-energy nuclear physics. To advance these fields, our group relies extensively on large-scale numerical simulations performed on the Karolina supercomputer at IT4Innovations.
We present an overview of the pivotal role of these simulations in supporting and guiding experimental research at ELI NP, with emphasis on three key areas:
1. Ion acceleration: from double-layer targets. Three-dimensional simulations reveal the sequence of physical effects, including pulse intensification in near-critical density plasmas via self-focusing, and the interplay of acceleration mechanisms such as hole-boring or light-sail radiation pressure acceleration, and target normal sheath acceleration. Together, these processes enable the acceleration of protons to energies exceeding 500 MeV, with energy spectra that fall off more slowly than exponentially.
2. Generation of monochromatic carbon ion bunches: We developed a laser-plasma source of narrow-band carbon ion bunches using the “peeler” scheme, in which an ultraintense laser pulse irradiates a thin foil from its edge. Such sources are of particular interest for applications in medical therapy.
3. Electron acceleration: We proposed a novel regime of laser wakefield acceleration in which nearly half of the laser pulse energy can be converted into broad-spectrum electron bunches. These beams can be employed directly or used to generate secondary bremsstrahlung radiation and tertiary particles such as neutrons.
The synergy between groundbreaking experiments at ELI NP and high-performance simulations at Karolina enables us to push the boundaries of knowledge in nuclear physics, laser-driven particle acceleration, and astrophysics. Numerical modeling not only validates experimental designs but also uncovers new opportunities and applications in fundamental research, industry, and medicine.
