The ELITAS research project was funded by the Structural Funds OP VVV (Operational Program for Research, Development and Education) a period of 30 months from 1. 6. 2017 to 31. 11. 2019.
The acronym ELITAS stands for ELI Tools for Advanced Simulation. The main purpose was to develop new tools for high-power laser-plasma interaction and be able to visualize them.
The research program was structured in 3 main work packages.
- The first work package concentrated on ultra-high intensity laser-plasma interaction. The corresponding research was in preparation of forthcoming flagship experiments on the ELI Beamlines 10 PW laser (L4-femtosecond).
- The second package addressed mainly the issue of transport processes in high-energy laser-plasma interaction of relevance for thermonuclear fusion and is of relevance to the L4- nanosecond laser beamline of ELI Beamlines.
- Finally, the third work package concentrated on the development of new tools for the visualization of simulation and experimental data. It also developed a unique experimental configurator to assess and design experimental configurations in the P3 chamber prior to the actual experiment. This is specifically designed to help future users with their experiments in ELI Beamlines.
46 publications in refereed journals were achieved during the grant period; which testifies the impressive research activities conducted by the members of the team.
ELITAS profited from the consultation work of Prof. V. T. Tikhonchuk, a renowned theoretician for laser-plasma interaction, who guided some of the research activities during the whole period.
Strong international cooperation characterized the project throughout its duration. The work package on ultra-high intensity laser-plasma interaction was carried out in fruitful collaboration with National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Moscow, Russia (A. Fedotov together with E. Gelfer, Y. Gu, M. Jirka, O. Klimo and S. Weber on ELI side). The second work package, more ICF-related, had strong ties with e.g. University of Bordeaux (in particular via Prof. V. Tikhonchuk working together with W. Huo, T. Schlegel, C. Lu, O. Klimo, J. Nikl, and S. Weber on ELI side). The work package concentrating on visualization (M. Danielova, J. Grosz) profited from interaction with a corresponding group at the Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon (in particular F. Cruz from the GoLP-group).
A series of outreach activities, mainly specialized workshops, were organized by the group to present the progress/achievements of ELITAS and to get feedback from the international community.
