A Distributed Research Infrastructure

EuAPS is a distributed Research Infrastructure that brings together three complementary facilities located at the INFN National Laboratories of Frascati (LNF), the INFN National Laboratories of the South (LNS) and the National Institute of Optics of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-INO).

At LNF, a laser-driven betatron X-ray source produces ultrashort, spatially coherent X-ray pulses, bridging the gap between conventional laboratory sources and large-scale synchrotron facilities. At LNS, a high-power laser system delivers pulses exceeding 320 TW, with a validated upgrade path to 500 TW, supporting laser-plasma interaction and particle acceleration studies. At CNR-INO, a high-repetition-rate laser beamline operates at 100 Hz, a rate ten times higher than comparable systems worldwide, opening access to applications requiring high average particle flux.

EuAPS is funded by the European Union under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2, with a total investment of €22.35 million.

Rather than operating as independent laboratories, the three facilities form a coordinated infrastructure aligned with the European roadmap for next-generation accelerator infrastructures, strengthening the Italian contribution to the EuPRAXIA ecosystem.

Scientific Scope

EuAPS supports research at the interface between advanced laser technologies, plasma physics and photon science. The betatron X-ray source at LNF enables phase-contrast imaging, time-resolved spectroscopy and pump-probe studies, extending laboratory-scale X-ray capabilities toward applications in materials science, biology and medical imaging.

The high-power laser system at LNS drives laser-plasma acceleration and secondary radiation generation, with applications spanning radiobiology, nuclear fusion studies in plasma and cultural heritage diagnostics. The high-repetition-rate beamline at CNR-INO supports the development of machine-learning-based beam stabilization techniques and opens access to applications requiring high average particle flux, including radiotherapy.

Together, these platforms establish the experimental and technological basis for future user services built on advanced photon and particle beams, within the broader framework of plasma-based accelerator research.

Partnership

EuAPS is built on the complementary contributions of INFN, CNR and the University of Rome Tor Vergata. INFN-LNF hosts the laser-driven betatron X-ray source, INFN-LNS the high-power laser system, and CNR-INO the high-repetition-rate laser beamline, while the University of Rome Tor Vergata contributes the user end station. This distribution of roles reflects each institution’s established expertise in accelerator physics, laser science, optics and diagnostics.

The partnership extends beyond the three implementing entities. Collaboration with ELI-ERIC provides scientific and technological benchmarks across all three facilities, and industrial partnerships have supported the delivery of critical laser systems.

EuAPS and EuPRAXIA

EuAPS represents the Italian contribution to the technological development of EuPRAXIA. The high-repetition-rate beamline at CNR-INO is designed to match the specifications required for the EuPRAXIA laser-driven pillar front-end, and EuAPS results have already contributed to the EuPRAXIA Technical Design Report. The three facilities give EuPRAXIA a concrete platform to validate sources, diagnostics and user end-stations ahead of full-scale implementation.

Looking Ahead

With all three facilities commissioned, EuAPS is moving from implementation to scientific exploitation. The participating institutions are developing a common access framework to harmonise user procedures across the three sites, with the first formal user calls planned for 2027. Staff retention measures are underway to preserve the technical expertise built during the project and ensure continuity of operations as the infrastructure transitions to full-scale user access.