Davide Orecchia
PhD thesis title: Development of nanostructured materials for high intensity laser-plasma applications
Academic Tutor: Valeria Russo
Academic Supervisors: Matteo Passoni
PhD cycle: 36° (see all student profiles of the same cycle > LINK)
BSc: Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology, Politecnico di Milano
MSc: Nuclear Engineering, Politecnico di Milano
Thesis abstract
There are multiple promising research areas related to the interaction of high intensity lasers with matter, all with great societal impact, such as Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) for clean energy production or laser-driven particle acceleration for multipurpose material characterization and nuclear medicine. My PhD work focuses on nanostructured low-density materials (nanofoams), able to strongly enhance laser-matter interaction. I exploit a novel Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) setup to produce nanofoams of virtually any element with tuneable properties, developing the materials and testing them in laser-matter interaction experiments.
Personal interest in my research theme
Plasma physics and laser-matter interaction are highly complex and multidisciplinary fields, and as such very stimulating to work on, while nanotechnology was one of my favourite topics in my bachelor studies in materials engineering. I particularly enjoy experimental research work, it is really rewarding—albeit demanding too! I have always been passionate about science and physics, and it is gratifying to work on those topics while also contributing to areas of applications of great societal relevance.
