There are numerous technological research experiments which are multidisciplinary in nature and continuously on the increase. The main fields of interest include research in thefield of detectors and associated electronics, applications in biomedical and cultural heritage fields, activities dedicated to computers and quantum technologies, and artificial intelligence. Research activities on advanced accelerator technologies focus on the development of high-efficiency superconducting systems. Quantum technologies have also benefited from INFN’s established expertise in superconducting structures and have led to the development of sensors for axion detection. Other research and development (R&D) fields concern high-energy and intensity electron accelerators, as well as proton and ion accelerators for radioactive beam production and hadron therapy applications.
In parallel, studies are advancing on laser acceleration methods to which the EuPRAXIA project at the Frascati National Laboratories is dedicated.
In the biomedical field, INFN’s expertise has found significant applications in medical imaging, cancer therapy, dosimetry, and the study of cell evolution and neurological models. In addition, environmental investigations and analysis of artefacts of artistic, archaeological and historical interest make increasing use of the extremely advanced and highly sensitive measurement technologies and methods developed in fundamental physics experiments.
Activity related to computing has a long tradition in INFN, which supports research on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence applied to both its theoretical and experimentalactivities.