Speaker
Description
Laser-driven ion accelerators are an emerging technology capable of producing ultra-short, high-intensity particle beams with broad energy spectra, opening new opportunities in physics, materials science, and medical applications. Within this context, the ELIMAIA–ELIMED beamline is designed to transport, shape, and deliver laser-accelerated ion beams with controlled parameters for multidisciplinary research and radiobiology.
Stray radiation generated both at the laser–target interaction and along the beamline was characterized and investigated. This radiation—including neutrons and photons—originates from the primary laser-plasma interaction as well as from subsequent beam interactions with matter, posing challenges for diagnostics and radiation protection. Monte Carlo simulations, benchmarked against experimental measurements, were used to study the origin and spatial distribution of these fields, supported by dedicated radiation monitoring systems.
This presentation reports the main outcomes of this work, including improved understanding of radiation sources and their spatial distribution, and demonstrates approaches for reducing background radiation in laser-driven ion beamlines.