EuPRAXIA - European Plasma Research Accelerator with exellence in Applications
Visualisation of the future EuPRAXIA facility. (Image: EuPRAXIA)
EuPRAXIA is the first European project that develops a dedicated particle accelerator research infrastructure based on novel plasma acceleration concepts and laser technology. EuPRAXIA is one of the projects on the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) Roadmap of 2021.
The EuPRAXIA project aims at the construction of an innovative electron accelerator using laser- and electron-beam–driven plasma wakefield acceleration that offers a significant reduction in size and possible savings in cost over current state-of-the-art radiofrequency (RF)-based accelerators.
The EuPRAXIA project started in 2015 with a Design Study, which was funded under the EU Horizon 2020 programme, and culminated at the end of 2019 with the publication of the worldwide first Conceptual Design Report for a plasma accelerator facility.
The preparational phase project EuPRAXIA-PP will serve a central role in the overall implementation plan of EuPRAXIA as a truly European Research Infrastructure. This new European facility will serve users from multiple fields with cutting edge beams of particles and photons, while driving open innovation in the technology of particle accelerators.
The European headquarters of EuPRAXIA are being set up at the Frascati site of INFN. Thanks to the already committed funding for the Italian pillar of EuPRAXIA, the preparatory phase project will be complemented by already started construction efforts for first pilot user operation in 2028. The synergy and integration of the European preparatory phase project and the national Italian project will ensure that this project will serve and benefit all EuPRAXIA partners and the full European Research Area.
To fully exploit the potential of this breakthrough facility, advances are urgently required in plasma and laser R&D, studies into facility design and optimization, along a coordinated push for novel applications. EuPRAXIA-DN is a MSCA Doctoral Network for a cohort of 12 Fellows (10 Fellows will be funded from the HE-MSCA-DN funds, while 2 Fellows will be funded by the UKRI guarantee funds) between universities, research centers and industry that will carry out an interdisciplinary and cross-sector plasma accelerator research and training program for this new research infrastructure. The network focuses on scientific and technical innovations and on boosting the career prospects of its Fellows.
The EuPRAXIA Design Study has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 653782.
EuPRAXIA-PP has received funding from the European Union´s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101079773.
EuPRAXIA-DN has received funding from the European Union´s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101073480 and the UKRI guarantee funds.
