In its first phase, its consortium composed by more than 50 European research institutes led by INFN together with industry partners will construct an electron-beam-driven plasma accelerator at INFN-LNF, thus bringing innovation, potential for spin-off companies, state-of-the art scientific applications and a vibrant international user community to the middle of Italy. In its second phase, EuPRAXIA will build one laser-driven plasma accelerator at a site to be chosen between 4 options in Europe. The EuPRAXIA research infrastructure will deliver particle beams in the range 1 – 5 GeV, ultra-short X-ray pulses from betatron radiation sources, FEL light bursts and positron beams.
The EuPRAXIA project is based on a plasma acceleration technique, consisting of an ionized gas excited by laser beams or particle bunches that is used as a means to accelerate the injected electrons. This new technique holds the promise of revolutionizing particle accelerators, not only enhancing their energy capabilities but also making them more efficient, compact (at least 10 times shorter), and thus reducing costs. Accelerators with these characteristics would have a significant impact not only in the field of basic research in high-energy physics but also in other areas including photon science, structural biology, particle physics detector development, material science, medical imaging and industrial applications.
