EuPRAXIA selects ELI for second Laser-Driven Accelerator Site

The EuPRAXIA Consortium selected ELI, specifically the ELI Beamlines Facility in Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic, as the site for its laser-driven plasma accelerator pillar. This decision follows an extensive evaluation process involving expert assessments of infrastructure readiness, technical capabilities, and strategic alignment with EuPRAXIA’s long-term objectives.

EuPRAXIA, included in the 2021 Roadmap of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), aims to pioneer compact, high-performance electron accelerators using advanced laser- and beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration technology. The second site at ELI Beamlines will complement the beam-driven facility being established at INFN Frascati, Italy, forming a pan-European distributed research infrastructure dedicated to transformative research and innovation in accelerator science.

“This decision adopted by the EuPRAXIA Consortium is a great achievement,” says Dr. Pierluigi Campana, EuPRAXIA’s Coordinator. “The choice of the second site is one of the most relevant milestones of the EuPRAXIA Preparatory Phase and a crucial step toward the implementation.”

ELI Beamlines was selected for its infrastructure readiness, state-of-the-art laser systems, and comprehensive technical expertise. With it’s advanced high-power, high-repetition-rate laser systems, including the newly developed L2 DUHA laser, and versatile experimental setups, ELI is ideally equipped to implement and operate the Laser-Plasma-Accelerator-based 1-GeV Free-Electron Laser (FEL) envisioned by EuPRAXIA.

Proposed set up of the EuPRAXIA Laser-Plasma-Accelerator-based 1-GeV Free-Electron Laser (FEL) at ELI Beamlines, driven by the L2 laser. (Photo credit: ELI ERIC)

Leveraging existing infrastructure to reduce the need for further investments, ensuring a cost-effective deployment is ELI’s effective integration strategy. The strategic alignment of the EuPRAXIA facility with ELI’s established research priorities in FEL and plasma acceleration technologies positions the infrastructure to lead globally competitive science and technology developments.

“We are proud and honoured by EuPRAXIA's decision to place its second site at ELI after such a thorough and transparent evaluation process. Being selected by EuPRAXIA is not just recognition—it’s a responsibility we embrace enthusiastically,” says Allen Weeks, ELI ERIC Director General. “We look forward to collaborating closely with the entire EuPRAXIA consortium and our partners to advance accelerator science and generate substantial benefits for science, industry, and society.”

Hosting the EuPRAXIA site at ELI unlocks substantial scientific, technological, and economic benefits, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in laser-plasma research. The initiative is expected to boost collaborations between academia and industry, attract additional investments, and enhance ELI’s scientific and technological capacity, while fostering innovation and growth in the broader Central European region.

EuPRAXIA also recognises the important roles of the other candidates for the second site, EPAC and CNR-INO, and welcomes their joint engagement in supporting the successful implementation of the second site. EPAC could contribute to EuPRAXIA as a centre for R&D, focusing on advancing research towards achieving a high-quality 5 GeV electron beam from compact laser-plasma accelerators suitable for FEL applications. While CNR-INO could function as EuPRAXIA's National Node in Italy, leading laser-plasma acceleration research and acting as a critical link between the two EuPRAXIA sites established in Italy and the Czech Republic, ensuring strong cohesion and scientific exchange within the consortium.

The upcoming steps involve collaborative efforts among EuPRAXIA members to prepare a Technical Design Report (TDR) that outlines the relevant technologies and stages of implementation—from initial setup to full-scale operations. The TDR will serve as a foundation for the realisation of the second site, with operations expected to begin in 2031. The first phase will focus on establishing the core infrastructure and commissioning the soft X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) based on laser-plasma acceleration (LPA) at 1 GeV. Phase 2 will culminate in the consolidation of resources between EuPRAXIA and ELI, significantly expanding the facility’s capabilities through the addition of a novel 5-GeV free-electron laser (FEL). This will position EuPRAXIA at ELI as a key hub for cutting-edge research based on laser-plasma acceleration (LPA).

As the only large-scale laser facility of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, ELI plays a critical role in bridging regional scientific excellence with pan-European innovation agendas. Its involvement in EuPRAXIA not only underlines its cutting-edge capabilities in laser-plasma acceleration and free-electron laser technologies but also supports its core mission to serve as a catalyst for cross-border collaboration, knowledge transfer, and technological innovation.

ELI will act as the system integrator, coordinating contributions from consortium members and international collaborators. The selection of ELI Beamlines represents a significant step forward for EuPRAXIA, reinforcing Europe's leadership in advanced accelerator technologies and demonstrating the immense potential of collaborative, innovative science.