Fast solid target delivery and plasma-ion detection systems have been designed and developed to be used in high intensity laser-matter interaction experiments. We report on recent progress in the development and testing of automated systems to refresh solid targets at a high repetition rate during high peak power laser operation (>1 Hz), along with ion diagnostics and corresponding data collection and real-time analysis methods implemented for future use in a plasma-based ion acceleration beamline for multidisciplinary user applications.

We report on the technological commissioning of the Laser–Plasma Ion Accelerator section of the ELIMAIA user beamline at the ELI Beamlines facility in the Czech Republic. The high-peak, high-average power L3-HAPLS laser system was used with an energy of ~10 J and pulse duration of ~30 fs on target, both in single-pulse and high repetition-rate (~0.5 Hz) mode. The laser pulse was tightly focused to reach ultrahigh intensity on target (~10²¹ W/cm²) and sustain such laser–plasma interaction regime during high repetition-rate operations. The laser beam, ion beam, and laser–plasma emission were monitored on a shot-to-shot basis, and online data analysis at 0.5 Hz was demonstrated through the full set of used diagnostics (e.g., far and near field, laser temporal diagnostics, X- and gamma-ray detectors, Thomson Parabola ion spectrometer, time-of-flight ion detectors, plasma imaging, etc.). The capability and reliability of the ELIMAIA Ion Accelerator was successfully demonstrated at a repetition rate of 0.5 Hz for several hundreds of consecutive laser shots.

The majority of studies on laser-driven proton–boron nuclear reaction is based on the measurement of α-particles with solid-state nuclear tracks detector (Cr39). However, Cr39's interpretation is difficult due to the presence of several other accelerated particles which can bias the analysis. Furthermore, in some laser irradiation geometries, cross-checking measurements are almost impossible. In this case, numerical simulations can play a very important role in supporting the experimental analysis. In our work, we exploited different laser irradiation schemes (pitcher–catcher and direct irradiation) during the same experimental campaign, and we performed numerical analysis, allowing to obtain conclusive results on laser-driven proton–boron reactions. A direct comparison of the two laser irradiation schemes, using the same laser parameters is presented.

The TERESA (TEstbed for high REpetition-rate Sources of Accelerated particles) target area, recently commissioned with the L3-HAPLS laser at Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI)-Beamlines, is presented. Its key technological sections (vacuum and control systems, laser parameters and laser beam transport up to the target) are described, along with an overview of the available plasma diagnostics and targetry, tested at relativistic laser intensities. Perspectives of the TERESA laser–plasma experimental area at ELI-Beamlines are briefly discussed.

An experimental platform for laser-driven ion (sub-MeV) acceleration and potential applications was commissioned at the HiLASE laser facility. The auxiliary beam of the Bivoj laser system operating at a GW level peak power (~10 J in 5–10 ns) and 1–10 Hz repetition rate enabled a stable production of high-current ion beams of multiple species (Al, Ti, Fe, Si, Cu, and Sn). The produced laser–plasma ion sources were fully characterized against the laser intensity on the target (10¹³–10¹⁵ W/cm²) by varying the laser energy, focal spot size, and pulse duration. The versatility and tuneability of such high-repetition-rate laser–plasma ion sources are of potential interest for user applications. Such a statistically accurate study was facilitated by the large amount of data acquired at the high repetition rate (1–10 Hz) provided by the Bivoj laser system.

The ELIMAIA laser-plasma Ion Accelerator, operating at ultrahigh laser intensities over 10²¹ W/cm², showcases enhanced performance thanks to the high-quality, high repetition-rate L3-HAPLS laser at the ELI Beamlines facility. Utilizing thin targets of various compositions and thicknesses improved Accelerator efficiency in the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration regime, achieving proton cutoff energy above 40 MeV under optimal conditions. The ELIMAIA Ion Accelerator demonstrated reliable, stable shot-to-shot performance up to 0.5 Hz over multiple shots, supported by precise target positioning and integrated data acquisition. Additionally, we commissioned ELIMED, designed to capture, select, and transport laser-driven ion beams for dosimetry and sample irradiation, marking the first in vitro biological cell irradiation at ELI Beamlines.