ICAN

International Coherent Amplification Network

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'We are aiming at studying a novel laser concept for High Energy Particle acceleration, known as CAN for Coherent Amplification Network that would guarantee high peak power and high average powers while exhibiting high efficiency, >30%. The approach is based on fibre amplification. The proposed technical evaluation will be performed by combining the expertise, know-how, and knowledge of a team of world leading experts coming from different horizons of optical science, technology and industry, including femtosecond fibre optics, instrumental optics, astronomy, manufacturing, and marketing. Although our primary target application will be particle acceleration for high-energy physics, our approach will have direct bearing on other fields. It will be done through conferences, workshops and meetings among the participants. Alongside those events mixing the laser and high energy physics communities, the ICAN project aims to identify and approach the Funding Agencies that may contribute to the construction of an infrastructure based on the ICAN concept. The final outcome of the study will include an implementation plan and a road map pointing out the most significant technical roadblocks, proposed solutions, manufacturing methods, and lobbying strategies to increase international membership, awareness, market study and business plan.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Could massive arrays of thousands of fibre lasers be the driving force behind next-generation particle accelerators? An EU-funded project believed so and was dedicated to performing a feasibility study.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Currently available high-intensity lasers deliver a petawatt of power at a rate of one laser pulse per second. However, practical applications in high-energy physics require laser sources that can run at higher repetition rates and demonstrate higher efficiencies.

Scientists envisage a 10-kHz repetition rate operation, which implies an average laser power of 100 kW. Although fibre lasers are well suited to high average power applications, ultrafast ones produce very low energy pulses because of optical nonlinearities.

Scientists initiated the EU-funded project 'International coherent amplification network' (http://www.izest.polytechnique.edu/izest-home/ican/ (ICAN)) to harness the efficiency, controllability and high power capability of fibre lasers to produce high-energy, high-repetition rate pulse sources. Through a series of conferences and workshops, the project examined the possibility of coherently adding pulses from thousands of fibre lasers. Such a system should provide the necessary power and efficiency that could economically produce a large flux of relativistic protons over millimetre lengths.

A laser system for high-energy physics requires thousands of fibres, each carrying a small amount of laser energy. It offers the advantage of relying on well-tested telecommunication elements. Due to laser diode pumping, excellent efficiencies are recorded.

To further explore this laser system concept, scientists covered many different aspects, ranging from fundamental physical limitations to potential laser manufacture. In particular, they examined efficiency as well as average and peak power limits of coherently combined ultrafast laser systems. In addition, spatial and temporal recombination of a large number of fibre amplifiers have been studied as well as the spatial and temporal beam quality. Focus was also placed on reducing pulse duration and manipulating pulse shape.

The final project outcome included an implementation map and a roadmap highlighting technical roadblocks, proposed solutions and manufacturing methods to increase international membership and awareness.

ICAN technology may also find important applications in nuclear transmutation, energy-specific gamma beams for isotope identification as well as in nuclear pharmacology and proton therapy.