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ECR ion sources and ion traps for accelerators, nuclear astrophysics and applications.
Mascali D.
R&D activities on plasma-based Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ECRIS) have boosted particle accelerators performances for decades. Recently, the PANDORA project has tried to broaden the research horizons of these setups, proposing for the first time to investigate the $\beta$-decay in ECR plasmas. It is expected that the lifetime of many isotopes ($e.g.$, $^{176}Lu$, $^{134}Cs$, $^{94}Nb$) can dramatically change, even of orders of magnitude, in high-temperature plasmas resembling some astrophysical conditions. These measurements are relevant, for example, to "re-calibrate" the so-called Cosmo-chronometers, or to improve the calculation of elemental abundances in the Galaxy due to the $s$-process nucleosynthesis. Advanced plasma modelling, as well as the development of sophisticated multi-diagnostics devices operating in the RF, microwave, optical and X-ray ranges, are now allowing to characterize plasma properties with unprecedented spatial and energy resolution. The gained expertise and know-how are supporting synergic activities for the Thermonuclear Fusion, especially, contributing to the DTT-Divertor Tokamak Test facility, and the PNRR initiatives named SAMOTHRACE and NQSTI.