PACRI Project kicks off in Trieste
The new EU-funded project PACRI (Plasma Accelerator systems for Compact Research Infrastructures) started officially with a kick-off meeting in Trieste (Italy) on 12 – 14 March 2025.
The €10 million PACRI project aims to revolutionize plasma accelerator technologies for next-generation research infrastructures such as EuPRAXIA and ELI-Beamlines.
The PACRI project focuses on three main research areas: high-repetition-rate plasma modules, advanced RF linear accelerator technologies, and high-power laser systems. By achieving breakthroughs in these fields, PACRI will reduce the size, cost, and environmental impact of accelerators, enabling their use in diverse applications such as medical imaging, materials diagnostics, and even compact colliders.
PACRI is a partnership among 18 Universities and International Research Laboratories supported by 7 Industrial Partners, and funded under the European Commission’s HORIZON-INFRA-2024 programme.
The kick-off meeting brought together for the first time all the partners involved in PACRI, both in person and online, to present and discuss their respective tasks within the project. There was a presentation, for each of the 14 interlinked work packages in PACRI, including project management, and scientific and industrial exploitation. The technical discussions covered theory and simulations, plasma structures, diagnostics and instrumentation, RF technology, and laser technology.
Representing the University of Liverpool, Prof Carsten Welsch presented the plans for developing advanced beam diagnostics as well as supporting the dissemination of PACRI’s findings through knowledge transfer, industrial exploitation, and public engagement.
The Liverpool team will design and test virtual diagnostic systems that leverage artificial intelligence for real-time machine control and optimization. These tools are expected to enable measurements of crucial parameters such as 4D emittance, beam coupling, and energy spread, which are vital for achieving high beam quality.
The kick-off meeting included the first PACRI General Assembly, where work package leaders were selected, and a visit to Elettra, the synchrotron facility in Trieste, which coordinates the project.