Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Pshysics (ELI-NP), a project developed in Romania, is going to be the most advanced research facility in the world focusing on the study of photonuclear physics and its applications, comprising a very high intensity laser of two 10PW ultra-short pulse lasers and the most brilliant tunable gamma-ray beam.
This unique experimental combination will enable ELI-NP to tackle a wide range of research topics in fundamental physics, nuclear physics and astrophysics, and also applied research in materials science, management of nuclear materials and life sciences.
ELI-NP is overseen by the Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH) and the laser system will be delivered by the French company Thales.
Thales is taking part in the Extreme Light Infrastructure for Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) project to develop the world’s most powerful laser system. This 2×10 petawatt laser will support research in nuclear physics and help advance human understanding of the physics of matter.
The Railway PRO Investment Summit, the XI th edition, organised, on October 13th, for its participants a technical visit at the site of the project. The new laser system will be operational in 2018. The project has a budget of EUR 850 million and is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
This infrastructure will create a new European laboratory with a broad range of science covering frontier fundamental physics, new nuclear physics and astrophysics as well as applications in nuclear materials, radioactive waste management, material science and life sciences.
Situated in Magurele, only 10 km away from Bucharest, the users of the ELI-NP facility benefit from all of the infrastructures and services provided within the metropolitan area.
Concentrating 8 research infrastructures of national interest, Magurele has the highest scientific visibility in Romania, with five national R&D institutes (Nuclear, Laser, Plasma & Space sciences, Material physics, Optoelectronics, Seismology) and two engineering companies (optoelectronics & design of nuclear facilities).
Thales is providing Romania’s nuclear physics institute (IFIN-HH) with an ultra high-power laser system delivering 2×10 petawatts (20 million billion watts) of power. This is more powerful than any other laser system to date, including the petawatt systems previously installed by Thales.
On the ELI-NP project, Thales is not only responsible for the development and supply of this complex scientific instrument, but will train Romanian engineers and technicians to install and operate the system for European research programmes.
The scientific research developed by the ELI-NP technology will be also useful for the Critical Infrastructure sector, the railway transport system being a part of this domain.
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