LILIA: an experiment on laser induced proton acceleration at the FLAME facility in Frascati Authors: A. Bacci 1 , D. Batani 9 , G.P. Cirrone 2 , C. De Martinis 3 , D. Delle Side 6 , A. Fazzi 4 , D. Giove 3 , L. A. Gizzi 10 , L. Labate 10 , T. Levato 10 P.Londrillo 7 , M. Maggiore 5 , M. Passoni 4 , V. Nassisi 6 , A. Sgattoni 7 , L. Serafini 3 , S. Sinigardi 8 , G. Turchetti 8 and L. Velardi 6 . 1) INFNLNF Frascati; 2)INFNLNS Catania; 3)INFN and University of Milan; 4) INFN and Politecnico of Milan; 5) INFNLNL Legnaro; 6) INFN and University of Salento; 7) University of ologna; 8) INFN and University of Bologna; 9) INFN and University of Milan Bicocca; 10) INFN and NO CNR of Pisa. B I Abstract At LNF – INFN in Frascati, a high power laser named FLAME (design power up to 250 TW, focused intensity up to 10 21 W/cm 2 , 10 Hz repetition rate and high contrast, of the order of 10 10 , between main pulse and Amplified Spontaneous Emission pedestal, and of the order of 10 6 between main pulse and pre-pulse) is going to be routinely operational by the end of this year. In this frame an experiment of light ions acceleration through laser interaction with thin metal targets (LILIA) has been proposed and funded. LILIA, in particular, is finalized to study, design and verify a scheme which foreseen the production, the characterization and the transport of a proton beam toward a stage of post acceleration (high frequency compact linacs). With the current focusing off- axis F/10 parabola, the maximum laser intensity is limited to a maximum of few times 10 19 W/cm 2 , but a shorter focal length parabola will be used to achieve the maximum laser intensity on target. In the present configuration, however, according to performed numerical simulations, we expect a proton beam with maximum energy of few MeV (10 MeV is as of now the maximum energy allowed by the local authorities for the experimental area where the experiment will be located) and total intensities up to 10 10 -10 12 protons/shot. Although these values are modest compared to the present state of art, nevertheless their scientific relevance is very important due to the fact that we will have, with a reasonable effort, a real laser driven source that will play the role of a test facility as far as emission process control and repeatability and post acceleration studies will be involved In the paper we will present the experimental set-up and the first tests of diagnostic devices based on radiochromic films, a Thomson parabola and solid-state diodes arrays. A scheme for the focusing and the transport of an emitted proton beam based on a pulsed solenoid feed by a custom designed power supply will be also presented. 1. Introduction Since the beginning of 2000 different kinds of experimental activities have been carried out about the interaction of ultrahigh-power laser pulses (beyond laser intensities of a few times 10 18 W/cm 2 with a duration time ranging between 40-1000 fs) and thin solid films (thickness of the order of 0.5-100 micron) of different elements both metallic (Au, Cu, Pd, Al) and dielectric (polymer). These experiments have shown that, as a result of the interaction, protons and ions with energies up to 60 MeV are emitted. These protons mostly originate from hydrocarbon contaminations at the target surface and are accelerated best due to their highest charge to mass ratio