One of the most active and innovative areas of laser and plasma science with challenging experimental and theoretical issues. [Rev. Mod. Phys. 85.2 (2013): 751]
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Welcome to the ENSURE project website!
ENSURE was a 5-year (2015-2020) multidisciplinary research project for the investigation of ion acceleration through the interaction between superintense laser pulses and nanostructured materials, funded by the European Research Council (Grant Agreement 647554) and hosted at the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Milano (Italy) under the supervision of the principal investigator prof. Matteo Passoni. Click on the button to find out more about the project!
This website is currently updated with the research in the wake of the ENSURE project, the related PoC project INTER and the recently approved PoC project PANTANI.
A multidisciplinary approach!
To achieve our goals, many experimental and theoretical challenges need to be faced within different fields of research in a multidisciplinary approach. Find out more about each of them.
Latest News
Press release on Politecnico di Milano’s website
The Politecnico di Milano published a press release on the …Read More »ENSURE has come to a successful end
After 5 years of fruitful work, the project ENSURE is …Read More »
Latest Publications
Mirani, F.; Maffini, A.; Casamichiela, F.; Pazzaglia, A.; Formenti, A.; D.Dellasega,; Russo, V.; Vavassori, D.; Bortot, D.; Huault, M.; Zeraouli, G.; V.Ospina,; Malko, S.; Apiñaniz, J. I.; Perez-Hernández, J. A.; Luis, D. De; G.Gatti,; Volpe, L.; Pola, A.; Passoni, M.
Integrated quantitative PIXE analysis and EDX spectroscopy using a laser-driven particle source Journal Article
In: Science Advances, vol. 7, no. 3, 2021.
@article{Mirani2020,
title = {Integrated quantitative PIXE analysis and EDX spectroscopy using a laser-driven particle source},
author = {F. Mirani and A. Maffini and F. Casamichiela and A. Pazzaglia and A. Formenti and D.Dellasega and V. Russo and D. Vavassori and D. Bortot and M. Huault and G. Zeraouli and V.Ospina and S. Malko and J. I. Apiñaniz and J. A. Perez-Hernández and D. De Luis and G.Gatti and L. Volpe and A. Pola and M. Passoni},
url = {https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/3/eabc8660},
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.abc8660},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-01-15},
journal = {Science Advances},
volume = {7},
number = {3},
abstract = {Among the existing elemental characterization techniques, particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy are two of the most widely used in different scientific and technological fields. Here, we present the first quantitative laser-driven PIXE and laser-driven EDX experimental investigation performed at the Centro de Láseres Pulsados in Salamanca. Thanks to their potential for compactness and portability, laser-driven particle sources are very appealing for materials science applications, especially for materials analysis techniques. We demonstrate the possibility to exploit the x-ray signal produced by the co-irradiation with both electrons and protons to identify the elements in the sample. We show that, using the proton beam only, we can successfully obtain quantitative information about the sample structure through laser-driven PIXE analysis. These results pave the way toward the development of a compact and multifunctional apparatus for the elemental analysis of materials based on a laser-driven particle source.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Among the existing elemental characterization techniques, particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) and energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy are two of the most widely used in different scientific and technological fields. Here, we present the first quantitative laser-driven PIXE and laser-driven EDX experimental investigation performed at the Centro de Láseres Pulsados in Salamanca. Thanks to their potential for compactness and portability, laser-driven particle sources are very appealing for materials science applications, especially for materials analysis techniques. We demonstrate the possibility to exploit the x-ray signal produced by the co-irradiation with both electrons and protons to identify the elements in the sample. We show that, using the proton beam only, we can successfully obtain quantitative information about the sample structure through laser-driven PIXE analysis. These results pave the way toward the development of a compact and multifunctional apparatus for the elemental analysis of materials based on a laser-driven particle source.
Pazzaglia, A.; Fedeli, L.; Formenti, A.; Maffini, A.; Passoni, M.
A theoretical model of laser-driven ion acceleration from near-critical double-layer targets Journal Article
In: Communications Physics , vol. 3, no. 133, 2020.
@article{Pazzaglia2020,
title = {A theoretical model of laser-driven ion acceleration from near-critical double-layer targets},
author = {A. Pazzaglia and L. Fedeli and A. Formenti and A. Maffini and M. Passoni },
url = {https://www.ensure.polimi.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pazzaglia2020CommPhys.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42005-020-00400-7},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-08-04},
journal = {Communications Physics },
volume = {3},
number = {133},
abstract = {Laser-driven ion sources are interesting for many potential applications, from nuclear medicine to material science. A promising strategy to enhance both ion energy and number is given by Double-Layer Targets (DLTs), i.e. micrometric foils coated by a near-critical density layer. Optimization of DLT parameters for a given laser setup requires a deep and thorough understanding of the physics at play. In this work, we investigate the acceleration process with DLTs by combining analytical modeling of pulse propagation and hot electron generation together with Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations in two and three dimensions. Model results and predictions are confirmed by PIC simulations—which also provide numerical values to the free model parameters—and compared to experimental findings from the literature. Finally, we analytically find the optimal values for near-critical layer thickness and density as a function of laser parameters; this result should provide useful insights for the design of experiments involving DLTs.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Laser-driven ion sources are interesting for many potential applications, from nuclear medicine to material science. A promising strategy to enhance both ion energy and number is given by Double-Layer Targets (DLTs), i.e. micrometric foils coated by a near-critical density layer. Optimization of DLT parameters for a given laser setup requires a deep and thorough understanding of the physics at play. In this work, we investigate the acceleration process with DLTs by combining analytical modeling of pulse propagation and hot electron generation together with Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations in two and three dimensions. Model results and predictions are confirmed by PIC simulations—which also provide numerical values to the free model parameters—and compared to experimental findings from the literature. Finally, we analytically find the optimal values for near-critical layer thickness and density as a function of laser parameters; this result should provide useful insights for the design of experiments involving DLTs.
Formenti, A.; Maffini, A.; Passoni, M.
Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model Journal Article
In: New Journal of Physics, vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 053020, 2020.
@article{Formenti2020,
title = {Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model},
author = {A. Formenti and A. Maffini and M. Passoni},
url = {https://www.ensure.polimi.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Formenti_2020_New_J._Phys._22_0530204.pdf},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ab83cf},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-05-07},
journal = {New Journal of Physics},
volume = {22},
number = {5},
pages = {053020},
abstract = {Plasma sheaths characterized by electrons with relativistic energies and far from thermodynamic equilibrium are governed by a rich and largely unexplored physics. A reliable kinetic description of relativistic non-equilibrium plasma sheaths—besides its interest from a fundamental point of view—is crucial to many application, from controlled nuclear fusion to laser-driven particle acceleration. Sheath models proposed in the literature adopt either relativistic equilibrium distribution functions or non-relativistic non-equilibrium distribution functions, making it impossible to properly capture the physics involved when both relativistic and non-equilibrium effects are important. Here we tackle this issue by solving the electrostatic Vlasov–Poisson equations with a new class of fully-relativistic distribution functions that can describe non-equilibrium features via a real scalar parameter. After having discussed the general properties of the distribution functions and the resulting plasma sheath model, we establish an approach to investigate the effect of non-equilibrium solely. Then, we apply our approach to describe laser–plasma ion acceleration in the target normal sheath acceleration scheme. Results show how different degrees of non-equilibrium lead to the formation of sheaths with significantly different features, thereby having a relevant impact on the ion acceleration process. We believe that this approach can offer a deeper understanding of relativistic plasma sheaths, opening new perspectives in view of their applications.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Plasma sheaths characterized by electrons with relativistic energies and far from thermodynamic equilibrium are governed by a rich and largely unexplored physics. A reliable kinetic description of relativistic non-equilibrium plasma sheaths—besides its interest from a fundamental point of view—is crucial to many application, from controlled nuclear fusion to laser-driven particle acceleration. Sheath models proposed in the literature adopt either relativistic equilibrium distribution functions or non-relativistic non-equilibrium distribution functions, making it impossible to properly capture the physics involved when both relativistic and non-equilibrium effects are important. Here we tackle this issue by solving the electrostatic Vlasov–Poisson equations with a new class of fully-relativistic distribution functions that can describe non-equilibrium features via a real scalar parameter. After having discussed the general properties of the distribution functions and the resulting plasma sheath model, we establish an approach to investigate the effect of non-equilibrium solely. Then, we apply our approach to describe laser–plasma ion acceleration in the target normal sheath acceleration scheme. Results show how different degrees of non-equilibrium lead to the formation of sheaths with significantly different features, thereby having a relevant impact on the ion acceleration process. We believe that this approach can offer a deeper understanding of relativistic plasma sheaths, opening new perspectives in view of their applications.