PANDORA, a new facility for interdisciplinary in-plasma physics

Abstract

PANDORA, Plasmas for Astrophysics, Nuclear Decays Observation and Radiation for Archaeometry, is planned as a groundbreaking new facility based on a state-of-the-art plasma trap confining extremely energetic plasma for performing interdisciplinary research in the fields of Nuclear Astrophysics, Astrophysics, Plasma Physics and Applications in Material Science and Archaeometry: the plasmas become the environment for measuring, for the first time, nuclear decays rates in stellar-like condition (such as 7 Be decay and beta-decay involved in s-process nucleosynthesis), especially as a function of the ionization state of the plasma ions. These studies are of paramount importance for addressing several astrophysical issues in both stellar and primordial nucleosynthesis environment (e.g. determination of solar neutrino flux and 7 Li Cosmological Problem), moreover the confined energetic plasma will be a unique light source for high performance stellar spectroscopy measurements in the visible, UV and X-ray domains, offering advancements in observational astronomy. As to magnetic fields, the experimental validation of theoretical first and second order Landé factors will drive the layout of next generation polarimetric units for the high resolution spectrograph of the future giant telescopes. In PANDORA new plasma heating methods will be explored, that will push forward the ion beam output, in terms of extracted intensity and charge states. More, advanced and optimized injection methods of ions in an ECR plasma will be experimented, with the aim at optimizing its capture efficiency. This will be applied to the ECR-based Charge Breeding technique, that will improve the performances of the SPES ISOL-facility currently installed at Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro-INFN. Finally, PANDORA will be suitable for energy conversion, making the plasma as an exceptional source of electromagnetic radiation, for applications in Material Science and Archaeometry. PACS. 52.72.+v Laboratory studies of space-and astrophysical-plasma processes -26. Nuclear Astrophysics -23.40.-s Beta decay; Electron Capture -95.55.Qf Photometric, polarimetric and spectroscopic instrumentation -52.50.-b Plasma production and heating -52.65.-y Plasma simulation -52.70.-m Plasma diagnostics techniques and instrumentation

Influence of the injected beam parameters on the capture efficiency of an electron cyclotron resonance based charge breeder

“…The numerical code developed in these last years is providing valuable results for the optimization of existing facilities and for addressing the design of future ones. Among others, the Plasmas for Advancements in Nuclear Decays Observationand as x-Ray source for Archaeometry (PANDORA) project [21] is now starting at INFN: it is based on a new use of ECR plasmas, which become an environment for measuring, for the first time, nuclear decay rates of different radionuclides as a function of their ionization state. Among the methods used to introduce such radionuclides inside the trap, the charge breeding technique has been judged as the most efficient, and must be optimized in case of especially light elements such as 7 Be (that will be the first physics case due to the relevant role played in nuclear astrophysics).…”

Innovative Analytical Method for X-ray Imaging and Space-Resolved Spectroscopy of ECR Plasmas

“…In the framework of the Plasmas for Astrophysics, Nuclear Decays Observation and Radiation for Archaeometry (PANDORA) project [3], the multi-diagnostic system will equip an innovative compact and flexible magnetic plasma trap to measure the nuclear β-decay rates of nuclear astrophysics interest, for the first time, in laboratory plasmas [4]. On the other hand, plasma diagnostics plays a crucial role in some applications, i.e., for the development and the improvement of future ECR ion sources (ECRISs) that can produce beams of highly charged ions with the high intensity and stability that are necessary for accelerators in applied and nuclear physics research.…”

Probing Electron Properties in ECR Plasmas Using X-ray Bremsstrahlung and Fluorescence Emission

“…Fundamental and application-oriented research require information on intermediate energy electrons spanning the boundary between warm and hot (k B T e ∼ 1-30 keV) because their properties govern the sequential ionisation process that forms the backbone of ECRIS operation. The PANDORA project is one such application which aims to measure β-decay rates of radioisotopes modified by the plasma environment, confining them in an ECR magnetic trap [5]. The idea is to then use these experimentally measured rates to verify the theory put forward by Takahashi and Yokoi [6] and in case of satisfactory match, extrapolate the same to stellar plasmas.…”