February–June 2017
Structural electron microscopy
A set of lectures to provide an introduction in electron microscopy for non-experts.
Experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from the Visegrád Group (V4) countries – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia – convened in Brussels on April 18th 2024 to explore the pivotal role of research infrastructures (RIs) in advancing scientific frontiers. Organized by V4 R&I support offices in Brussels (CZELO, SLORD, PolSCA, NRDIO), the conference provided a platform for discussing the future trajectory of RIs and their financing mechanisms. José Luis Martínez, Chair of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), outlined in keynote speech the main findings from the report on Financing RIs. He emphasized the need for synergy among funding sources at regional, national, and EU levels to ensure the availability of relevant RIs for European scientists. José Luis Martínez – Chair of ESFRI ELI Beamlines’ Global Impact He was followed by Allan Weeks, Director General of the ELI Delivery Consortium, who showcased the global significance of ELI Beamlines, a cutting-edge laser facility exploring the unprecedented intensities of light-matter interaction. ELI ERIC, established in April 2021, is made up from staff located in Hungary and Czech Republic of which there are total 627 with 47 nationalities. Weeks invited scientists worldwide to utilize the facility, highlighting its role in pushing scientific boundaries. Luboš Halada from the Slovak Academy of Sciences discussed Slovakia’s involvement in the eLTER research infrastructure. Martin Šponiar, representing the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic, emphasized Slovakia’s support for existing infrastructures. The Polish representative introduced Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center. Advancing Open Science and FAIR Data Ute Gunsenheimer, Secretary General of the EOSC Association, elaborated on the future of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) initiative. She emphasized the Tripartite Collaboration and the evolution of EOSC nodes towards the creation of the EOSC Federation, aiming to enhance the production of FAIR research output. Debating Future Trajectories The afternoon session featured speakers from Ministries, Permanent Representations of V4 countries, and a representative from the European Commission. This session focused on the future trajectory of research infrastructures as well as on the future financial and legislative goals with a lively debate on potential enhancements for FP10.
A team of international scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, and the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) collaborated on an experiment to optimise high-intensity high-repetition rate laser technology using machine learning. The experiment represents a significant leap forward in the study, understanding, and practical application of high-intensity lasers. “Our goal was to demonstrate robust diagnosis of laser-accelerated ions and electrons from solid targets at a high intensity and repetition rate,” explains Matthew Hill of LLNL, the lead researcher. “Supported by rapid feedback from a machine-learning optimisation algorithm to the laser front end, it was possible to maximise the total ion yield of the system.” This collaborative effort and the utilisation of state-of-the-art laser technology coupled with machine learning techniques have opened new avenues for advancements in various fields such as medical therapy, materials science, and non-destructive analysis in the field of cultural heritage and archaeology. The team participating in the collaborative experiment Over 4000 shots fired during the campaign, which consistently exceeded laser intensities of 3×10^21 W/cm² onto solid targets, demonstrated optimisation of ion yield above the nominal baseline performance. “The high quality and large volume of data that was produced and must now be worked with to explore the underlying physics validates the hard work of the entire team,” notes Hill. The experiment took place at the ELI Beamlines Facility in the Czech Republic, where the researchers utilised the state-of-the-art High-Repetition-Rate Advanced Petawatt Laser System (L3-HAPLS) to generate protons in the ELIMAIA Laser-Plasma Ion accelerator. The L3-HAPLS laser is renowned for its laser performance repeatability, precision, beam quality, and the ability to generate intense laser pulses at a high repetition rate to drive the generation of secondary sources such as electrons, ions, and x-rays. The unprecedented shot-to-shot repeatability of L3-HAPLS allows scientists to focus on the understanding of laser-plasma interaction physics. “By harnessing the HAPLS and pioneering machine learning techniques, we embarked on a remarkable endeavor to further comprehend the intricate physics of laser-plasma interactions,” adds Constantin Haefner, Managing Director of Fraunhofer ILT. “This collaborative effort serves as a testament to the strength of teamwork and technological advancements in pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge together.” Demonstrating the integration of machine learning between target diagnostics and the dispersion controls of a high-power, high-repetition-rate laser is a significant milestone both for the facility and the wider high energy density science community. “The successful execution of such a complex experiment showcases the cutting-edge quality and reliability of the L3-HAPLS laser system,” says Bedrich Rus, Chief Laser Scientist at ELI Beamlines. Daniele Margarone, Director of Research and Operations of ELI Beamlines concludes, “With such experiments ELI demonstrates the readiness and ability to pushing the frontiers of knowledge. We at ELI are committed to enable transformative experiments that redefine what’s possible in laser science and beyond. Original source: ELI ERIC
On 29th March 2024, Romania, as the designated host country of the statutory seat of the future DANUBIUS-ERIC (International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems), submitted to the European Commission the so-called step 2 application on the establishment of the DANUBIUS-ERIC. Following the submission, the European Commission will examine the application and the draft statutes. A decision on the formation of the DANUBIUS-ERIC consortium can then be expected within 6 calendar months. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall allow its Members for operating the national components of the European research infrastructure DANUBIUS. Czech Republic is one of the founding members, jointly with Bulgaria, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Greece, United Kingdom, Spain, and Ukraine. DANUBIUS-RI: A view of the site of the future central HUB in Murighiol, Romania (Media Gallery – DANUBIUS-PP) European Research Infrastructure DANUBIUS The mission of DANUBIUS-ERIC is to enable excellent research within the river-sea systems, to offer the most modern research infrastructure and to provide the integrated knowledge needed for the sustainable development and protection of aquatic ecosystems. The formal essence of the DANUBIUS European Research Infrastructure is a coordinated network of scientific sites spread across Europe. The control function will be fulfilled by a HUB located in Murighiol, Romania, near the Danube Delta. Other important parts of the research infrastructure are the Technology Transfer Office, which is operated by University College in Cork, Ireland, and a data centre based in Bucharest, Romania. The function of expert centers providing equipment and services, data storage and their availability, access to experimental equipment and measurement equipment will be fulfilled by a set of nodes. For example an analytical node that will be functional within the central HUB in Murighiol, or an observation node operated by the Marine Laboratory (PML) in Plymouth, southern England. Last but not least, the DANUBIUS-ERIC structure will consist of so-called Supersites. Under this designation are defined sites with significant scientific potential, serving as a key areas for observation, complex research and modeling of river-sea systems. One of the Supersites, named Hydrological Nexus of Central Europe, will also be located on the territory of the Czech Republic. DANUBIUS-ERIC activities aim to achieve healthy state of river and marine systems and promote their sustainable use so that human society can live within the sustainable ecological limits of planet Earth by 2050. DANUBIUS-RI: Estuary of the Nestos River within the Greek Nestos Supersite (Media Gallery – DANUBIUS-PP) Involvement of the Czech Republic in the DANUBIUS-ERIC The Czech Republic became one of the first countries where the DANUBIUS European research infrastructure project received official support. The Czech partners involved in the creation and operation of the future European research infrastructure DANUBIUS are the large research infrastructure CzeCOS, coordinated by the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice through the large research infrastructure CENAKVA. Both CzeCOS and CENAKVA offer capacities for excellent research on European river basins, usable within the Czech Supersite Hydrological Nexus of Central Europe. The unique role of the Czech Supersite is due to the Czech Republic’s location as the source area of several major European rivers. As part of DANUBIUS-ERIC, the Czech side will participate in activities with the aim of supporting world-class interdisciplinary research and innovation in the field of freshwater research.