BENEFICIARIES
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)
The National Research Council (CNR) the largest public research institution in Italy, the only one under the Ministry of University and Research performing multidisciplinary activities.
CNR's mission is to perform basic and applied research in its own Institutes, distributed all over Italy, to promote innovation and competitiveness of the national industrial system, to promote the internationalization of the national research system, to provide technologies and solutions to emerging public and private needs, to advice Government and other public bodies, and to contribute to the qualification of human resources.
The Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory (ILIL) of the National Institute of Optics of the CNR, located in Pisa (Italy) performs research in the field of high-intensity laser interactions with matter, with research topics ranging from ultrashort laser development to laser-plasma acceleration and related applications, including, among other, life, material and fundamental sciences. The laboratory hosts a 220TW, ultrashort laser system, and is equipped with a radiation shielded Target Area for experiments with high energy particles and radiation. A major upgrade of the laboratory is expected to be carried out over the next few years, even within the framework of the Next Generation EU funding programme for research infrastructures, encompassing the installation of a new high average energy, high rep rate ultrashort/ultraintense laser system and a new underground Target Area.
The laboratory is a key node of the Italian “ELI-Italy” Network established by the Italian Ministry in view of the Implementation phase of the Extreme Light Infrastructure. It has a leading role in the development, together with industrial partners, of the laser system foreseen for the EuPRAXIA infrastructure.
The Laboratory has well-established links with many leading international High-Power Laser Laboratories and Facilities, as well as Academic Groups and has a close collaboration with the INFN Frascati National Laboratory. The Intense Laser Irradiation Laboratory has a long-term experience in the training of young scientists through several schemes including European Union RT Networks.