Reuse & Permissions

It is not necessary to obtain permission to reuse this article or its components as it is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI are maintained. Please note that some figures may have been included with permission from other third parties. It is your responsibility to obtain the proper permission from the rights holder directly for these figures.

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Open Access

SPARC_LAB facility for advanced acceleration and radiation experiments

R. Pompili1,*, M. P. Anania1, I. Balossino1, M. Bellaveglia1, A. Biagioni1, F. Cardelli1, M. Carillo1, E. Chiadroni2, A. Cianchi3,4,5 et al.

G. Costa1, L. Crincoli1, A. Del Dotto1, M. Del Franco1, M. Del Giorno1, R. Demitra1, F. Demurtas1, V. Dompè1, A. Frazzitta2, M. Galletti1, A. Gallo1, L. Giannessi1, C. Di Giulio1, A. Giribono1, G. Latini1, A. Liedl1, A. Michelotti1, M. Opromolla1, G. Parise1, E. Di Pasquale1, A. Petralia6, L. Piersanti1, S. Pioli1, G. Di Pirro1, S. Romeo1, A. R. Rossi7, L. Sabbatini1, B. Serenellini1, V. Shpakov8, G. J. Silvi1, L. Spallino1, A. Stella1, F. Stocchi1, C. Vaccarezza1, A. Vannozzi1, L. Verra1, F. Villa1, and M. Ferrario1

  • *Contact author: riccardo.pompili@lnf.infn.it

Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 29, 051602 – Published 19 May, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/rnz7-3qyj

Abstract

The SPARC_LAB facility, operating at the LNF-INFN laboratories in Frascati, has been devoted over the past years to R&D related to accelerators, advanced diagnostics, and generation of radiation ranging from THz to extreme UV light. The facility has recently been significantly upgraded and moved toward user-oriented applications, especially after the approval of two additional projects with the goal to develop radiation sources up to the soft x-ray range and in view of the EuPRAXIA project, whose preparatory phase is ongoing with the support of the European Commission. This paper summarizes the electron beam and radiation parameters and describes the layout and main features of the upgraded facility in view of future user-oriented experimental activities and applications.

View figure in article

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Article Text

References (65)

  1. SPARC_LAB (2023), https://sparclab.lnf.infn.it/.
  2. R. Pompili et al., Nat. Phys. 17, 499 (2021).
  3. W. Wang et al., Nature (London) 595, 516 (2021).
  4. M. Galletti, R. Assmann, M. E. Couprie, M. Ferrario, L. Giannessi, A. Irman, R. Pompili, and W. Wang, Nat. Photonics 18, 780 (2024).
  5. R. Pompili et al., Nature (London) 605, 659 (2022).
  6. M. Galletti, D. Alesini, M. Anania, S. Arjmand, M. Behtouei, M. Bellaveglia, A. Biagioni, B. Buonomo, F. Cardelli, M. Carpanese et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 234801 (2022).
  7. R. Assmann et al., Eur. Phys. J. ST 229, 3675 (2020).
  8. M. Ferrario et al., Eupraxia@sparc_lab technical design report (2026), 10.15161/oar.it/k57qz-5qk09.
  9. D. Alesini, S. Bertolucci, M. Biagini, C. Biscari, R. Boni, M. Boscolo, M. Castellano, A. Clozza, G. Di Pirro, A. Drago et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 507, 345 (2003).
  10. F. Bisesto, M. Anania, M. Bellaveglia, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, G. Costa, A. Curcio, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 909, 452 (2018).
  11. V. Shpakov, D. Alesini, M. Anania, M. Behtouei, B. Buonomo, M. Bellaveglia, A. Biagioni, F. Cardelli, M. Carillo, E. Chiadroni et al., J. Instrum. 17, P12022 (2022).
  12. L. Serafini and M. Ferrario, AIP Conf. Proc. 581, 87 (2001).
  13. M. Ferrario et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 054801 (2010).
  14. A. Cianchi et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 18, 082804 (2015).
  15. R. Pompili et al., New J. Phys. 18, 083033 (2016).
  16. M. Galletti, F. Stocchi, G. Costa, A. Curcio, M. Del Giorno, R. Pompili, L. Cacciotti, G. Di Pirro, V. Dompè, L. Verra et al., Appl. Sci. 14, 8619 (2024).
  17. D. Strickland and G. Mourou, Opt. Commun. 55, 447 (1985).
  18. F. Galdenzi, M. P. Anania, A. Balerna, R. J. Bean, A. Biagioni, C. Bortolin, L. Brombal, F. Brun, M. Coreno, G. Costa et al., Condens. Matter 9, 30 (2024).
  19. R. Pompili, M. Anania, M. Bellaveglia, A. Biagioni, F. Bisesto, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, M. Croia, A. Curcio, D. Di Giovenale et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 829, 17 (2016).
  20. M. Ferrario et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 637, S43 (2011).
  21. R. Pompili et al., Opt. Lett. 46, 2844 (2021).
  22. R. Pompili, M. Anania, A. Biagioni, M. Carillo, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, G. Costa, A. Curcio, L. Crincoli, A. Del Dotto et al., Phys. Rev. E 109, 055202 (2024).
  23. A. Del Dotto, A. C. Berceanu, A. Biagioni, M. Ferrario, G. Fortugno, R. Pompili, S. Romeo, A. R. Rossi, P. Santangelo, V. Shpakov, and A. Zigler, Phys. Plasmas 29, 100701 (2022).
  24. L. Verra, M. Galletti, R. Pompili, A. Biagioni, M. Carillo, A. Cianchi, L. Crincoli, A. Curcio, F. Demurtas, G. Di Pirro, V. Lollo, G. Parise, D. Pellegrini, S. Romeo, G. J. Silvi, F. Villa, and M. Ferrario, Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 035001 (2024).
  25. S. Romeo, M. Cesarini, A. Del Dotto, M. Ferrario, M. Galletti, R. Pompili, and V. Shpakov, AIP Adv. 11, 065217 (2021).
  26. R. Pompili et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 132, 215001 (2024).
  27. R. Pompili et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 89, 033302 (2018).
  28. A. Cianchi, D. Alesini, M. Anania, F. Biagioni, F. Bisesto, E. Chiadroni, A. Curcio, M. Ferrario, F. Filippi, A. Ghigo et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 909, 350 (2018).
  29. D. Alesini, G. Di Pirro, L. Ficcadenti, A. Mostacci, L. Palumbo, J. Rosenzweig, and C. Vaccarezza, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 568, 488 (2006).
  30. V. Shpakov et al., Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 24, 051301 (2021).
  31. E. Chiadroni, M. Bellaveglia, P. Calvani, M. Castellano, L. Catani, A. Cianchi, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario, G. Gatti, O. Limaj et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 022703 (2013).
  32. E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, M. Ferrario, A. Mostacci, R. Pompili, and V. Shpakov, Condens. Matter 5, 40 (2020).
  33. F. Giorgianni, E. Chiadroni, A. Rovere, M. Cestelli-Guidi, A. Perucchi, M. Bellaveglia, M. Castellano, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario et al., Nat. Commun. 7, 11421 (2016).
  34. R. Pompili, A. Cianchi, D. Alesini, M. P. Anania, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, M. Castellano, E. Chiadroni, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro, G. Gatti, F. Giorgianni, M. Ferrario, S. Lupi, F. Massimo, A. Mostacci, A. R. Rossi, C. Vaccarezza, and F. Villa, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 740, 216 (2014).
  35. G. Costa, M. Anania, S. Arjmand, A. Biagioni, M. Del Franco, M. Del Giorno, M. Galletti, M. Ferrario, D. Pellegrini, R. Pompili et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 64, 044012 (2022).
  36. G. Costa, M. Anania, A. Biagioni, F. Bisesto, E. Brentegani, M. Ferrario, R. Pompili, S. Romeo, A. Rossi, A. Zigler et al., J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1596, 012044 (2020).
  37. A. Biagioni et al., J. Instrum. 14, C03002 (2019).
  38. M. Galletti, M. P. Anania, S. Arjmand, A. Biagioni, G. Costa, M. Del Giorno, M. Ferrario, V. Lollo, R. Pompili, Y. Raz, V. Shpakov, F. Villa, A. Zigler, and A. Cianchi, Symmetry 14, 450 (2022).
  39. A. Biagioni, M. Anania, M. Bellaveglia, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario, F. Filippi, A. Mostacci et al., J. Instrum. 11, C08003 (2016).
  40. M. Galletti, L. Crincoli, R. Pompili, L. Verra, F. Villa, R. Demitra, A. Biagioni, A. Zigler, and M. Ferrario, Phys. Rev. E 111, 025202 (2025).
  41. J. Papeer, I. Dey, Z. Henis, M. Botton, Y. Ferber, G. R. Kumar, and A. Zigler, Appl. Phys. Lett. 111, 074102 (2017).
  42. L. Giannessi, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, F. Briquez, M. Castellano, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, F. Ciocci, M. Couprie, L. Cultrera et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 144801 (2011).
  43. M. Labat, M. Bellaveglia, M. Bougeard, B. Carré, F. Ciocci, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, M. Couprie, L. Cultrera, M. Del Franco et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 224801 (2011).
  44. V. Petrillo, M. Anania, M. Artioli, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, F. Ciocci, G. Dattoli, D. Di Giovenale et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 114802 (2013).
  45. C. Ronsivalle, M. Anania, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, F. Ciocci, G. Dattoli, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro et al., New J. Phys. 16, 033018 (2014).
  46. L. Lazzarino, E. Di Palma, M. Anania, M. Artioli, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, F. Ciocci, G. Dattoli et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 17, 110706 (2014).
  47. A. Petralia, M. Anania, M. Artioli, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, M. Carpanese, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, F. Ciocci, G. Dattoli et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 014801 (2015).
  48. E. Chiadroni, M. Bellaveglia, P. Calvani, M. Castellano, L. Catani, A. Cianchi, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario, G. Gatti, O. Limaj, S. Lupi, B. Marchetti, A. Mostacci, E. Pace, L. Palumbo, C. Ronsivalle, R. Pompili, and C. Vaccarezza, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 022703 (2013).
  49. F. Giorgianni, M. Bellaveglia, M. Castellano, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, M. Daniele, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario, S. Lupi et al., in SPIE Optics+ Optoelectronics (International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2015), pp. 95090O–95090O, 10.1117/12.2178970.
  50. E. Chiadroni, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, M. Boscolo, M. Castellano, L. Cultrera, G. Di Pirro, M. Ferrario, L. Ficcadenti, D. Filippetto et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 094101 (2013).
  51. F. Giorgianni, M. P. Anania, M. Bellaveglia, A. Biagioni, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, M. Daniele, M. Del Franco, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro et al., Appl. Sci. 6, 56 (2016).
  52. L. Giannessi, M. Artioli, M. Bellaveglia, F. Briquez, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, M. Couprie, G. Dattoli, E. Di Palma, G. Di Pirro et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 164801 (2012).
  53. X. Liang, M. Calvi, M.-E. Couprie, R. Ganter, C. Kittel, N. Sammut, T. Schmidt, M. Valléau, and K. Zhang, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 987, 164741 (2021).
  54. f. Dipace, E. Chiadroni, M. Ferrario, A. Ghigo, L. Giannessi, A. Giribono, L. Sabbatini, C. Vaccarezza, A. Doria, A. Petralia, V. Petrillo, S. Lupi, and S. Macis, in International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC’21) (Joint Accelerator Conferences Website, Geneva, Switzerland, 2021), pp. 1612–1614.
  55. S. Macis, M. Bellaveglia, M. Cestelli Guidi, E. Chiadroni, f. Dipace et al., in International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC’21) (Joint Accelerator Conferences Website, Geneva, Switzerland, 2021), pp. 1525–1527.
  56. M. Calvi, C. Camenzuli, E. Prat, and T. Schmidt, J. Synchrotron Radiat. 24, 600 (2017).
  57. A. Curcio, A. Cianchi, G. Costa, A. Del Dotto, F. Demurtas, M. Ferrario, M. D. R. Frías, M. Galletti, J. Pérez-Hernández, and G. Gatti, Sci. Rep. 14, 1719 (2024).
  58. A. Curcio, M. L. Berlanga, N. Boudjema, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, A. Del Dotto, D. Francescone, M. Galletti, V. Horny, A. Huerta, A. Mostacci, J. A. Pérez-Hernández, M. Petrarca, I. Rodriguez, C. Salgado-López, F. Stocchi, P. Tomassini, I. Vladisavlevici, M. D. Frias, M. Ferrario, and G. Gatti, Phys. Rev. E 111, L013201 (2025).
  59. A. Frazzitta, A. Bacci, A. Carbone, A. Cianchi, A. Curcio, I. Drebot, M. Ferrario, V. Petrillo, M. R. Conti, S. Samsam et al., Instruments 7, 52 (2023).
  60. F. Villa, M. Anania, M. Bellaveglia, F. Bisesto, E. Chiadroni, A. Cianchi, A. Curcio, M. Galletti, D. Di Giovenale, G. Di Pirro et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 829, 446 (2016).
  61. M. Bellaveglia and A. Gallo, The SPARC-LAB synchronization system upgrade, Technical Report, LNF-INFN, 2014.
  62. M. Bellaveglia, A. Gallo, L. Piersanti, R. Pompili, G. Gatti, M. Anania, M. Petrarca, F. Villa, E. Chiadroni, A. Biagioni et al., in SPIE Optics+ Optoelectronics (International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2015), pp. 95120V–95120V, 10.1117/12.2185103.
  63. G. White, M. Shankar, A. N. Johnson, M. L. Rivers, G. Shen, S. Veseli, K. Shroff, M. Sekoranja, T. Cobb, T. Korhonen et al., in Proceedings of the 10th International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC2019) (JACoW, Geneva, Switzerland, 2019).
  64. A. Michelotti, R. Gargana, and G. Knap, EPIK8S: A kubernetes-based framework for scalable EPICS control system deployment in accelerator facilities, J. Instrum. 21, P04010 (2026).
  65. C. Rosati, G. Weiss, S. K. K. Lund, and E. Smith, in Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Accelerator and Large Experimental Physics Control Systems (ICALEPCS), New York, NY, USA (JACoW, Geneva, Switzerland, 2019), pp. 1497–1499, 10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2019-WESH1002.

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation