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
Cipriani, M.; Maffini, A.; Orecchia, D.; Magistris, M. S. Galli De; Ciardiello, V.; Scisciò, M.; Andreoli, P.; Cristofari, G.; Ferdinando, E. Di; Schiavo, V. Lo; Davino, D.; Passoni, M.; Consoli, F.
Ablation loading efficiency of carbon nanostructured foams produced with the pulsed laser deposition technique Journal Article
In: Matter and Radiation at Extremes, iss. 11, no. 047402, 2026.
@article{AblLoadNanofoam,
title = {Ablation loading efficiency of carbon nanostructured foams produced with the pulsed laser deposition technique},
author = {M. Cipriani and A. Maffini and D. Orecchia and M. S. Galli De Magistris and V. Ciardiello and M. Scisciò and P. Andreoli and G. Cristofari and E. Di Ferdinando and V. Lo Schiavo and D. Davino and M. Passoni and F. Consoli},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0316156},
doi = {10.1063/5.0316156},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-04-27},
urldate = {2026-04-27},
journal = {Matter and Radiation at Extremes},
number = {047402},
issue = {11},
abstract = {Porous materials have particular advantages for a variety of applications in inertial confinement fusion. To identify suitable new materials for these applications, it is important to investigate their interaction with high-power lasers and the associated plasma evolution. In this work, we report on the results of an experimental campaign performed at the ABC laser facility, employing carefully characterized nanostructured carbon foams obtained with the pulsed laser deposition technique. The enhancement of the ablation loading due to the foam buffer is evaluated by comparing the volume of the crater left after the interaction among different samples. Particular foam parameters and morphology are found to increase the ablation loading by producing a larger crater volume. Visible side-on streak camera images confirm these results. The absorption efficiency is investigated by time-resolved measurement of the laser light collected by focusing lenses and acquired by two fast photodiodes.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Porous materials have particular advantages for a variety of applications in inertial confinement fusion. To identify suitable new materials for these applications, it is important to investigate their interaction with high-power lasers and the associated plasma evolution. In this work, we report on the results of an experimental campaign performed at the ABC laser facility, employing carefully characterized nanostructured carbon foams obtained with the pulsed laser deposition technique. The enhancement of the ablation loading due to the foam buffer is evaluated by comparing the volume of the crater left after the interaction among different samples. Particular foam parameters and morphology are found to increase the ablation loading by producing a larger crater volume. Visible side-on streak camera images confirm these results. The absorption efficiency is investigated by time-resolved measurement of the laser light collected by focusing lenses and acquired by two fast photodiodes.
Maffini, A.; Ambrogioni, K.; Dellasega, D.; Galbiati, M.; Magistris, M. S. Galli De; Gatti, F.; Iaccarino, M.; Mallimaci, C.; Mirani, F.; Orecchia, D.; Russo, V.; Vavassori, D.; Passoni, M.
Nanofoam in action: a versatile tool for laser-plasma interaction experiments Journal Article
In: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, vol. 68, no. 035007, 2026.
@article{NanoInAction,
title = {Nanofoam in action: a versatile tool for laser-plasma interaction experiments},
author = {A. Maffini and K. Ambrogioni and D. Dellasega and M. Galbiati and M. S. Galli De Magistris and F. Gatti and M. Iaccarino and C. Mallimaci and F. Mirani and D. Orecchia and V. Russo and D. Vavassori and M. Passoni},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/ae44c8},
doi = {10.1088/1361-6587/ae44c8},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-03-03},
journal = {Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion},
volume = {68},
number = {035007},
abstract = {Low-density near-critical materials in laser-plasma interaction (LPI) stand out for their capability in enhancing the coupling between the laser radiation and the target. Indeed, they can be exploited for fundamental physics studies, optimised particle acceleration for practical applications, and inertial confinement fusion. However, the modelling of complex non-linear phenomena occurring during the interaction of these materials and high-intensity lasers, together with the accurate control and characterisation of their physical properties, are still object of intense research. In this context, near-critical nanofoams produced via pulsed laser deposition represent a promising option owing to the versatility and controllability of their deposition technique. In this paper, we report on our modelling and experimental activities related to laser-nanofoam interaction. In particular, we first present the deposition methodology, focusing on the production of nanofoams with controlled composition and morphology. Then, we show our numerical strategy to model the foam aggregation. We also discuss how the nanofoam morphology affects the LPI by integrating the realistic nanostructure in particle-in-cell simulations, focusing on various regimes of interaction. Lastly, we present examples of applications of nanofoam-based targets via numerical simulations and experiments, focusing also on the open issues for reaching the requirements for full-fledged applications. Our work demonstrates nanofoam-based targets as a versatile tool to effectively optimise and advance LPI physics.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Low-density near-critical materials in laser-plasma interaction (LPI) stand out for their capability in enhancing the coupling between the laser radiation and the target. Indeed, they can be exploited for fundamental physics studies, optimised particle acceleration for practical applications, and inertial confinement fusion. However, the modelling of complex non-linear phenomena occurring during the interaction of these materials and high-intensity lasers, together with the accurate control and characterisation of their physical properties, are still object of intense research. In this context, near-critical nanofoams produced via pulsed laser deposition represent a promising option owing to the versatility and controllability of their deposition technique. In this paper, we report on our modelling and experimental activities related to laser-nanofoam interaction. In particular, we first present the deposition methodology, focusing on the production of nanofoams with controlled composition and morphology. Then, we show our numerical strategy to model the foam aggregation. We also discuss how the nanofoam morphology affects the LPI by integrating the realistic nanostructure in particle-in-cell simulations, focusing on various regimes of interaction. Lastly, we present examples of applications of nanofoam-based targets via numerical simulations and experiments, focusing also on the open issues for reaching the requirements for full-fledged applications. Our work demonstrates nanofoam-based targets as a versatile tool to effectively optimise and advance LPI physics.
McNamee, A.; Kantarelou, V.; Nersisyan, G.; Milani, A.; Maffini, A.; Orecchia, D.; Martin, P.; Scisciò, M.; Giuffrida, L.; Consoli, F.; Kar, S.; Margarone, D.
Contaminant-free alpha particles signature from laser-driven proton-boron fusion plasma using Thomson parabola spectrometer Journal Article
In: Laser and Particle Beams, vol. 43, no. e8, 2025.
@article{nokeyi,
title = {Contaminant-free alpha particles signature from laser-driven proton-boron fusion plasma using Thomson parabola spectrometer},
author = {A. McNamee and V. Kantarelou and G. Nersisyan and A. Milani and A. Maffini and D. Orecchia and P. Martin and M. Scisciò and L. Giuffrida and F. Consoli and S. Kar and D. Margarone},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/lpb.2025.10005},
doi = {10.1017/lpb.2025.10005},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-12-09},
urldate = {2025-12-09},
journal = {Laser and Particle Beams},
volume = {43},
number = {e8},
abstract = {Accurate discrimination and energy measurement of alpha particles remain a key challenge in proton boron fusion driven by high-intensity laser-plasma interaction due to the complex mix of ions generated in these extreme conditions. We present a novel implementation of a high-accuracy, low-background technique involving a CR-39 enhanced image plate that was used with a Thomson parabola spectrometer (TPS) and differential filtering. This technique demonstrated a strong reduction in background contamination arising from plasma ions compared to standard CR-39 and allowed for the generation of a contaminant-free alpha particle energy spectrum from a boron foam target irradiated by a 10 J, 800 fs laser pulse with an intensity of . The laser pulse was from a hybrid Ti:Sapphire-Nd:glass system generated from the Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) mode. The spectrum covered an energy range of 3–8 MeV with a corresponding energy resolution of 0.1–0.5 MeV. The developed filtering technique has the potential to measure even lower energy ranges, further extending its applicability compared with existing methods. The differential filtering solution strongly reduces the signal from carbon ions that would otherwise overlap the alpha particle trace on the TPS, providing a quasi-contaminant-free signal, while the CR-39 enhanced the detection sensitivity compared to other detectors.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Accurate discrimination and energy measurement of alpha particles remain a key challenge in proton boron fusion driven by high-intensity laser-plasma interaction due to the complex mix of ions generated in these extreme conditions. We present a novel implementation of a high-accuracy, low-background technique involving a CR-39 enhanced image plate that was used with a Thomson parabola spectrometer (TPS) and differential filtering. This technique demonstrated a strong reduction in background contamination arising from plasma ions compared to standard CR-39 and allowed for the generation of a contaminant-free alpha particle energy spectrum from a boron foam target irradiated by a 10 J, 800 fs laser pulse with an intensity of . The laser pulse was from a hybrid Ti:Sapphire-Nd:glass system generated from the Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) mode. The spectrum covered an energy range of 3–8 MeV with a corresponding energy resolution of 0.1–0.5 MeV. The developed filtering technique has the potential to measure even lower energy ranges, further extending its applicability compared with existing methods. The differential filtering solution strongly reduces the signal from carbon ions that would otherwise overlap the alpha particle trace on the TPS, providing a quasi-contaminant-free signal, while the CR-39 enhanced the detection sensitivity compared to other detectors.